Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: QUARTETTE versus YAZ.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: QUARTETTE versus YAZ.
QUARTETTE vs YAZ
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Combination oral contraceptive containing drospirenone, ethinyl estradiol, levomefolate calcium, and metformin. Drospirenone is a progestin with antimineralocorticoid and antiandrogenic activity. Ethinyl estradiol is an estrogen. Levomefolate calcium is a folate supplement. Metformin is a biguanide that decreases hepatic glucose production and improves insulin sensitivity.
Combination of ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone; suppresses gonadotropins (FSH and LH) inhibiting ovulation, and increases cervical mucus viscosity to impede sperm penetration. Drospirenone has antimineralocorticoid and antiandrogenic activity.
3 mg orally once daily for 21 days followed by 7 days of placebo.
One tablet (0.02 mg ethinyl estradiol and 3 mg drospirenone) orally once daily for 24 days, followed by 2 days of placebo.
None Documented
None Documented
Terminal elimination half-life is 12-14 hours; clinically this supports once-daily dosing with steady state achieved within 2-3 days.
Terminal elimination half-life of drospirenone is 31.2-32.5 hours; ethinyl estradiol: 13-27 hours. Steady-state achieved after 10 days of daily dosing. Clinically, once-daily dosing maintains stable concentrations.
Renal excretion accounts for 55% (primarily as unchanged drug), biliary/fecal excretion 35%, and the remainder undergoes metabolic clearance.
Approximately 50% of drospirenone is excreted renally (metabolites, with <10% unchanged), and 50% via feces (biliary) after hepatic conjugation. Ethinyl estradiol is primarily excreted renally (60%) and fecally (40%) as glucuronide and sulfate conjugates.
Category C
Category C
Oral Contraceptive
Oral Contraceptive