Drug & supplement interaction

Copper + Ethinyl Estradiol, Norgestimate

Ethinyl Estradiol, Norgestimate brand names: Ortho Tri-Cyclen 28, Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo, Ortho-Cyclen, Mononessa, Previfem, and others.

Minor Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Minor

Copper has a minor interaction with Ethinyl Estradiol, Norgestimate. 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 Ethinyl Estradiol, Norgestimate

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

Minor

CONTRACEPTIVE DRUGS

Why this applies to Ethinyl Estradiol, Norgestimate

Ethinyl Estradiol, Norgestimate 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 the gist with your birth control pill (Ortho Tri-Cyclen and similar brands that contain ethinyl estradiol and norgestimate). The estrogen in these pills tends to nudge your blood copper levels up on its own, just from regular use. So if you add a copper supplement on top of that, the two effects could stack and push your copper a bit higher than usual.

I want to keep this in perspective. This is a theoretical concern based on how these things behave, not a proven problem, and it's rated minor. Your pill will still work fine, and copper from a normal diet isn't the issue. The caution is really about taking concentrated copper supplements long-term. If you're considering one, just run it past your pharmacist or doctor first so they can confirm you actually need it.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
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 Ethinyl Estradiol, Norgestimate one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 1 Minor 29 No known interaction 2,800 (incl. Ethinyl Estradiol, Norgestimate)
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 Ethinyl Estradiol, Norgestimate

This page covers Copper only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Ethinyl Estradiol, Norgestimate page lists 239 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Beer (major), Grapefruit (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major) and St. John's Wort (major).

By severity: 6 major · 195 moderate · 38 minor.

Open the Ethinyl Estradiol, Norgestimate 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 Ethinyl Estradiol, Norgestimate 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 Ethinyl Estradiol, Norgestimate 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 Ethinyl Estradiol, Norgestimate
Steady interest

#1,696 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
1 Moderate 29 Minor 2,799 No interaction
Moderate

1 interaction

Minor

29 interactions

No interaction 2,799 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Copper against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,799 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Copper list.

See the full Copper interactions page
See every supplement checked against Ethinyl Estradiol, Norgestimate, ranked by severity
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

Keep exploring
Copper monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Ethinyl Estradiol, Norgestimate supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Ethinyl Estradiol, Norgestimate, ranked by severity Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Copper and Ethinyl Estradiol, Norgestimate Together: Common Questions

Can you take Copper with Ethinyl Estradiol, Norgestimate?
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 Ethinyl Estradiol, Norgestimate 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

Still Have a Question About Ethinyl Estradiol, Norgestimate and Copper?

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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.