Drug & supplement interaction

Copper + Ethiny Estradiol, Levonorgestrel

Ethiny Estradiol, Levonorgestrel brand names: Logynon, Microgynon 30 ED.

Minor Interaction
The bottom line Minor

Copper has a minor interaction with Ethiny Estradiol, Levonorgestrel. Theoretically, taking copper with contraceptive drugs might increase the levels and toxic effects of copper.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityMinor
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Copper and Ethiny Estradiol, Levonorgestrel

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Minor

CONTRACEPTIVE DRUGS

Why this applies to Ethiny Estradiol, Levonorgestrel

Ethiny Estradiol, Levonorgestrel falls under CONTRACEPTIVE DRUGS — the group Copper interacts with.

Theoretically, taking copper with contraceptive drugs might increase the levels and toxic effects of copper.
A meta-analysis of clinical studies suggests that chronic use of oral contraceptives increases serum copper levels by a mean of 57 mcg/dL. In most people, this resulted in levels above the normal reference range for copper.
Severity Minor Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's something a little different from most interactions: it's not that copper changes how your birth control works, it's the other way around. The estrogen in Microgynon (ethinyl estradiol) tends to raise the amount of copper circulating in your blood. Studies pooled together found the pill bumps copper up by about 57 mcg/dL on average, which can push some women above the normal range. So adding a copper supplement on top of that could, in theory, stack things higher than you want.

The good news is this is a minor, mostly theoretical concern. Copper from a normal diet is fine, and your pill keeps working the same. If you've been told to take a copper supplement, just run it past your pharmacist or doctor first so they can check whether you actually need the extra.

References
  1. Babic Z, Tariba B, Kovacic J, Pizent A, Varnai VM, Macan J. Relevance of serum copper elevation induced by oral contraceptives: a meta-analysis. Contraception. 2013 Jun;87(6):790-800. PubMed

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Copper Also Interacts With Other Medications

Copper has 1 moderate, 29 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Ethiny Estradiol, Levonorgestrel one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Copper

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Copper. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Ethiny Estradiol, Levonorgestrel

This page covers Copper only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Ethiny Estradiol, Levonorgestrel page lists 214 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Grapefruit (major), St. John's Wort (major), Acacia Rigidula (moderate) and Adrafinil (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 171 moderate · 40 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Ethiny Estradiol, Levonorgestrel page

“A supplement that lowers hormone levels in a birth control pill can mean an unplanned pregnancy, and St. John's wort can do exactly that to ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel (Logynon, Microgynon 30 ED) by speeding up how your liver clears the hormones.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Ethiny Estradiol, Levonorgestrel interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Copper as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 14,186 real supplement products containing Copper, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Copper. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Ethiny Estradiol, Levonorgestrel too, on top of Copper — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Copper and Ethiny Estradiol, Levonorgestrel Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Copper
Top 5%

#20 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Ethiny Estradiol, Levonorgestrel
Top 10%

#160 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Copper

What is Copper?

  • Preventing or treating copper deficiency
  • Supporting red blood cell formation
  • Bone and connective tissue health
  • Immune support
  • Antioxidant defense
  • Balancing high zinc intake

Copper is an essential trace mineral your body needs in small amounts for making red blood cells, supporting nerves and bones, and helping enzymes work. Most people get enough copper from food, and supplements are mainly useful for diagnosed deficiency. Too much copper can be harmful, so do not take high doses without medical advice.

Read the full Copper monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Copper

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Copper — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
1Moderate
29Minor
2,799No known interaction
Moderate

1 interaction

Minor

29 interactions

No interaction 2,799 drugs checked — show the list
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Copper and Ethiny Estradiol, Levonorgestrel Together: Common Questions

Can you take Copper with Ethiny Estradiol, Levonorgestrel?
There is only a minor interaction, which is usually not serious. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Copper and Ethiny Estradiol, Levonorgestrel interaction?
We rate it Minor. This interaction is generally not clinically significant, but it remains worth noting and discussing with your pharmacist.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.