Luizza 1/20 norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol .02 mg; 1 mg Tablet, 63-count — NDC 70700-313-79 (Billing 70700-0313-79)
This is a package of 63 tablets of Luizza 1/20 norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol .02 mg; 1 mg Tablet from Xiromed, LLC, marketed since Jan 2025 and currently FDA-listed; retail pharmacies pay about $0.1812 per tablet (NADAC). It is this product's only package size.
Identity & classification
Regulatory identifiers FDA, NLM and CMS codes for this package
Drug-database identifiers Medi-Span GPI and First Databank GCN / HICL / AHFS classification
- GSN (GCN sequence number): 003305
- GCN: 11481
- GPI-14 (Medi-Span): 25990002600310
- HICL (First Databank): 001455
- AHFS class code: 68:12.00.00
- RxCUI (RxNorm): 1358762
Where does this data come from?
- FDA openFDA NDC Directory · synced Oct 1, 2026
- FDA label on DailyMed · label index refreshed Oct 1, 2026
- RxNorm (NLM RxNav) · catalog refreshed Oct 1, 2026
- Medi-Span GPI (licensed)
- First Databank (licensed) · refreshed Oct 1, 2026
RxNorm drug class
This medicine belongs to the Estrogen class.
Where does this data come from?
- RxClass (NLM) · catalog refreshed Oct 1, 2026
Clinical
Oral contraceptives (birth-control pills) containing ethinyl estradiol (an estrogen) and norethindrone (a progestin) are used to prevent pregnancy. Estrogen and progestin are two female sex hormones. Combinations of estrogen and progestin work mainly by preventing ovulation (the release of eggs from the ovaries). Oral contraceptives are an effective method of birth control, but they do not prevent the spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome [AIDS]) and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Read the full MedlinePlus article ↗Patient education
Supplement & herbal interactions
Where does this data come from?
- MedlinePlus (NLM) · refreshed Oct 1, 2026
- FDA label on DailyMed · label index refreshed Oct 1, 2026
Ask a licensed pharmacist directly — free, answered by our team.
Pricing
A drug doesn't have one price. Each row is a different public payment system, and none is what you'd pay at the counter — that depends on your insurance. The ⓘ on each row explains what it measures.
| Price system | Per ea | Per package |
|---|---|---|
| Retail pharmacies payNADAC · weekly | $0.181 | $11.42 / 63 tablets |
| Medicaid paysCMS SDUD · 12 mo | $0.3708 | $23.36 / 63 tablets |
| Medicare drug plans payPart D · Q2 2026 | $0.3779 | $23.81 / 63 tablets |
Where does this data come from?
- CMS NADAC weekly file · file of Sep 30, 2026
- CMS ASP pricing files · refreshed Sep 20, 2026
- CMS Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data · through Q1 2026
- CMS Part D plan pricing files · refreshed Sep 24, 2026
- VA National Acquisition Center price file
Packaging — all sizes for this product
| Package NDC | Description | Marketing start | Marketing end | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70700-0313-79 You're viewing this Main listing | 3 POUCH in 1 CARTON / 1 BLISTER PACK in 1 POUCH / 21 TABLET in 1 BLISTER PACK | 2025-01-29 | — | Active |
Therapeutic equivalents
| Product | Labeler | Pack | NADAC/unit | TE | Status | Price vs. this |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luizza 1/20 .02 mg/1; 1 mgthis 70700-0313-79 | Xiromed, | 63 tablets | $0.181 | AB | Availability likely | — |
| Norethindrone Acetate And Ethinyl Estradiol .02 mg/1; 1 mg 00378-7280-53 | Mylan | 63 tablets | $0.184 | AB | Availability likely | +2% |
Where does this data come from?
- FDA openFDA NDC Directory · synced Oct 1, 2026
- FDA Orange Book · refreshed Oct 3, 2026
- CMS NADAC weekly file · file of Sep 30, 2026
Availability & generic status
This product is an FDA-approved generic. Other versions of the same drug are listed under Therapeutic equivalents, least expensive first.
Where does this data come from?
- FDA Orange Book · refreshed Oct 3, 2026
Inactive Ingredients / Excipients
Inactive ingredients, also called excipients, are components of the drug product other than the active ingredient. They may include fillers, dyes, coatings, preservatives, flavors, or other formulation ingredients.
💡 Tap an ingredient (hover on desktop) to see what it is and why it’s used.
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UNII 7QWA1RIO01
A synthetic form of vitamin E used as an antioxidant in medicines. It prevents oils and fats in the formulation from breaking down, helping the drug remain stable and effective during storage.
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UNII 3SY5LH9PMK
Anhydrous lactose is a milk sugar with no water content. It acts as a filler and binder in tablets and capsules, adding bulk and helping ingredients stick together.
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UNII M28OL1HH48
Croscarmellose sodium is a plant-based substance derived from cellulose. It acts as a disintegrant, helping tablets and capsules break down quickly in the digestive system so the medicine can be absorbed.
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UNII EWQ57Q8I5X
Lactose monohydrate is a natural sugar derived from milk. It serves as a filler and binder in tablets and capsules, helping create the proper size, texture, and consistency of the medicine.
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UNII 70097M6I30
Magnesium stearate is a salt made from magnesium and stearic acid, a fatty substance. It's used in tablets and capsules as a lubricant and glidant to help ingredients flow smoothly during manufacturing and prevent sticking.
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UNII K0KQV10C35
Povidone K25 is a synthetic polymer made from vinyl pyrrolidone. It acts as a binder to hold tablet ingredients together and as a disintegrant to help the tablet break apart in the stomach for better absorption.
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UNII 368GB5141J
A detergent and foaming agent derived from coconut or palm oil. In medications, it helps break down and mix oil and water-based ingredients, aids in tablet disintegration, and improves how the drug dissolves and spreads in the mouth or digestive system.
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UNII C151H8M554
A natural sugar derived from sugar cane or sugar beets. It's used as a sweetener, filler, and binder to improve taste, add bulk, and help hold tablet or capsule ingredients together.
8 inactive ingredients listed in the exact product block matched to this NDC.
Where does this data come from?
ingredient classCode="IACT" elements from the exact product block matched by this NDC. Label-section narrative from DailyMed / the openFDA label index is shown separately when available.- FDA label on DailyMed · label index refreshed Oct 1, 2026
- FDA openFDA NDC Directory · synced Oct 1, 2026
Inactive ingredient FAQ
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Manufacturer & labeler
Where does this data come from?
- FDA openFDA NDC Directory · synced Oct 1, 2026
- Drugs@FDA
Full prescribing information FDA SPL
🚨 Boxed Warning ▾
WARNING: CIGARETTE SMOKING AND SERIOUS CARDIOVASCULAR EVENTS Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular events from combination oral contraceptive (COC) use. This risk increases with age, particularly in women over 35 years of age, and with the number of cigarettes smoked. For this reason, COCs, including norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol tablets, are contraindicated in women who are over 35 years of age and smoke (see CONTRAINDICATIONS and WARNINGS ).
🎯 Indications and Usage ▾
INDICATIONS AND USAGE Luizza 1/20 is indicated for the prevention of pregnancy in women who elect to use oral contraceptives as a method of contraception. Oral contraceptives are highly effective. Table I lists the typical accidental pregnancy rates for users of combination oral contraceptives and other methods of contraception.
The efficacy of these contraceptive methods, except sterilization, depends upon the reliability with which they are used. Correct and consistent use of methods can result in lower failure rates. TABLE I: LOWEST EXPECTED AND TYPICAL FAILURE RATES DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF CONTINUOUS USE OF A METHOD Adapted from RA Hatcher et al, Reference 7. % Of Women Experiencing an Unintended Pregnancy in the First Year of Continuous Use Method Lowest Expected The authors' best guess of the percentage of women expected to experience an accidental pregnancy among couples who initiate a method (not necessarily for the first time) and who use it consistently and correctly during the first year if they do not stop for any other reason.
Typical This term represents "typical" couples who initiate use of a method (not necessarily for the first time), who experience an accidental pregnancy during the first year if they do not stop use for any other reason. (No contraception) (85) (85) Oral contraceptives 3 Combined
0.1N/A N/A - Data not available. progestin only
0.5N/A Diaphragm with spermicidal cream or jelly 6 20 Spermicides alone (foam, creams, gels, vaginal suppositories, and vaginal film) 6 26 Vaginal Sponge nulliparous 9 20 Parous 20 40 Implant 0.05
0.05Injection: depot medroxyprogesterone acetate 0.3
0.3IUD progesterone T 1.5 2.0 copper T 380A 0.6
0.8LNg 20 0.1
0.1Condom without spermicides female 5 21 male 3 14 Cervical Cap with spermicidal cream or jelly nulliparous 9 20 parous 26 40 Periodic abstinence (all methods) 1 to 9 25 Withdrawal 4 19 Female sterilization 0.5
0.5Male sterilization 0.10 0.15
⏱️ Dosage and Administration ▾
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION The tablet blister pack has been designed to make oral contraceptive dosing as easy and as convenient as possible. The tablets are arranged in three rows of seven tablets each, with the days of the week appearing on the tablet blister above the first row of tablets. Note: Each blister card has been preprinted with the days of the week, starting with Sunday, to facilitate a Sunday-Start regimen.
Six different day label strips have been provided with the Detailed Patient & Brief Summary Patient Package Insert in order to accommodate a Day-1 Start regimen. If the patient is using the Day-1 Start regimen, she should place the self-adhesive day label strip that corresponds to her starting day over the preprinted days. Important: The patient should be instructed to use an additional method of protection until after the first week of administration in the initial cycle when utilizing the Sunday-Start regimen.
The possibility of ovulation and conception prior to initiation of use should be considered. Dosage and Administration for 21-Day Dosage Regimen To achieve maximum contraceptive effectiveness, Luizza 1/20 must be taken exactly as directed and at intervals not exceeding 24 hours. Luizza 1/20 provides the patient with a convenient tablet schedule of “3 weeks on - 1 week off.” Two dosage regimens are described, one of which may be more convenient or suitable than the other for an individual patient.
For the initial cycle of therapy, the patient begins her tablets according to the Day-1 Start or Sunday-Start regimen. With either regimen, the patient takes one tablet daily for 21 consecutive days followed by one week of no tablets. A.
Sunday-Start Regimen: The patient begins taking tablets from the top row on the first Sunday after menstrual flow begins. When menstrual flow begins on Sunday, the first tablet is taken on the same day. The last tablet in the blister pack will then be taken on a Saturday, followed by no tablets for a week (7 days).
For all subsequent cycles, the patient then begins a new 21-tablet regimen on the eighth day, Sunday, after taking her last tablet. Following this regimen, of 21 days on – 7 days off, the patient will start all subsequent cycles on a Sunday. B.
Day-1 Start Regimen: The first day of menstrual flow is Day 1. The patient places the self-adhesive day label strip that corresponds to her starting day over the preprinted days on the blister pack. She starts taking one tablet daily, beginning with the first tablet in the top row.
The patient completes her 21-tablet regimen when she has taken the last tablet in the tablet blister pack. She will then take no tablets for a week (7 days). For all subsequent cycles, the patient begins a new 21-tablet regimen on the eighth day after taking her last tablet, again starting with the first tablet in the top row after placing the appropriate day label strip over the preprinted days on the tablet blister pack.
Following this regimen of 21 days on – 7 days off, the patient will start all subsequent cycles on the same day of the week as the first course. Likewise, the interval of no tablets will always start on the same day of the week. Tablets should be taken regularly with a meal or at bedtime.
It should be stressed that efficacy of medication depends on strict adherence to the dosage schedule. Special Notes on Administration Menstruation usually begins two or three days, but may begin as late as the fourth or fifth day, after discontinuing medication. If spotting occurs while on the usual regimen of one tablet daily, the patient should continue medication without interruption.
If the patient forgets to take one or more tablets, the following is suggested: One tablet is missed take tablet as soon as remembered take next tablet at the regular time Two consecutive tablets are missed (week 1 or week 2) take two tablets as soon as remembered take two tablets the next day use another birth control method for seven days following the missed t… [Excerpted — this section continues on DailyMed.]
⛔ Contraindications ▾
CONTRAINDICATIONS Oral contraceptives are contraindicated in women who currently have the following conditions: Thrombophlebitis or thromboembolic disorders A past history of deep vein thrombophlebitis or thromboembolic disorders Cerebral vascular or coronary artery disease Current diagnosis of, or history of, breast cancer, which may be hormone sensitive Carcinoma of the endometrium or other known or suspected estrogen-dependent neoplasia Undiagnosed abnormal genital bleeding Cholestatic jaundice of pregnancy or jaundice with prior pill use Hepatic adenomas or carcinomas Are receiving Hepatitis C drug combinations containing ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir, with or without dasabuvir, due to the potential for ALT elevations (see Warnings, RISK OF LIVER ENZYME ELEVATIONS WITH CONCOMITANT HEPATITIS C TREATMENT ).
⚠️ Warnings ▾
WARNINGS The use of oral contraceptives is associated with increased risks of several serious conditions including myocardial infarction, thromboembolism, stroke, hepatic neoplasia, and gallbladder disease, although the risk of serious morbidity or mortality is very small in healthy women without underlying risk factors. The risk of morbidity and mortality increases significantly in the presence of other underlying risk factors such as hypertension, hyperlipidemias, obesity, and diabetes. Practitioners prescribing oral contraceptives should be familiar with the following information relating to these risks.
The information contained in this package insert is principally based on studies carried out in patients who used oral contraceptives with higher formulations of estrogens and progestogens than those in common use today. The effect of long-term use of the oral contraceptives with lower formulations of both estrogens and progestogens remains to be determined. Throughout this labeling, epidemiological studies reported are of two types: retrospective or case control studies and prospective or cohort studies.
Case control studies provide a measure of the relative risk of a disease, namely, a ratio of the incidence of a disease among oral contraceptive users to that among nonusers. The relative risk does not provide information on the actual clinical occurrence of a disease. Cohort studies provide a measure of attributable risk, which is the difference in the incidence of disease between oral contraceptive users and nonusers.
The attributable risk does provide information about the actual occurrence of a disease in the population (adapted from References 8 and 9 with the author's permission). For further information, the reader is referred to a text on epidemiological methods. 1.
Thromboembolic Disorders and Other Vascular Problems a. Myocardial Infarction An increased risk of myocardial infarction has been attributed to oral contraceptive use. This risk is primarily in smokers or women with other underlying risk factors for coronary artery disease such as hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, morbid obesity, and diabetes.
The relative risk of heart attack for current oral contraceptive users has been estimated to be two to six (10-16). The risk is very low under the age of 30. Smoking in combination with oral contraceptive use has been shown to contribute substantially to the incidence of myocardial infarctions in women in their mid-thirties or older with smoking accounting for the majority of excess cases (17).
Mortality rates associated with circulatory disease have been shown to increase substantially in smokers over the age of 35 and non-smokers over the age of 40 ( Table II ) among women who use oral contraceptives. TABLE II CIRCULATORY DISEASE MORTALITY RATES PER 100,000 WOMAN YEARS BY AGE, SMOKING STATUS AND ORAL CONTRACEPTIVE USE Oral contraceptives may compound the effects of well-known risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemias, age and obesity (19). In particular, some progestogens are known to decrease HDL cholesterol and cause glucose intolerance, while estrogens may create a state of hyperinsulinism (20-24).
Oral contraceptives have been shown to increase blood pressure among users (see section 9 in WARNINGS ). Similar effects on risk factors have been associated with an increased risk of heart disease. Oral contraceptives must be used with caution in women with cardiovascular disease risk factors.
TABLE II: CIRCULATORY DISEASE MORTALITY RATES PER 100,000 WOMAN YEARS BY AGE, SMOKING STATUS AND ORAL CONTRACEPTIVE USE b. Thromboembolism An increased risk of thromboembolic and thrombotic disease associated with the use of oral contraceptives is well established. Case control studies have found the relative risk of users compared to non-users to be 3 for the first episode of superficial venous thrombosis, 4 to 11 for deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, and 1.5 to 6 for women with predisposing… [Excerpted — this section continues on DailyMed.]
🤒 Adverse Reactions ▾
ADVERSE REACTIONS An increased risk of the following serious adverse reactions has been associated with the use of oral contraceptives (see WARNINGS section): Thrombophlebitis Arterial thromboembolism Pulmonary embolism Myocardial infarction Cerebral hemorrhage Cerebral thrombosis Hypertension Gallbladder disease Hepatic adenomas or benign liver tumors Post Marketing Experience Five studies that compared breast cancer risk between ever-users (current or past use) of COCs and never-users of COCs reported no association between ever use of COCs and breast cancer risk, with effect estimates ranging from 0.90 - 1.12 (Figure 1) (70-74).
Three studies compared breast cancer risk between current or recent COC users (<6 months since last use) and never users of COCs (Figure 1) (70,73,75). One of these studies reported no association between breast cancer risk and COC use. The other two studies found an increased relative risk of 1.19 - 1.33 with current or recent use.
Both of these studies found an increased risk of breast cancer with current use of longer duration, with relative risks ranging from 1.03 with less than one year of COC use to approximately 1.4 with more than 8-10 years of COC use. FIGURE 1: RELEVANT STUDIES OF RISK OF BREAST CANCER WITH COMBINED ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES There is evidence of an association between the following conditions and the use of oral contraceptives, although additional confirmatory studies are needed: Mesenteric thrombosis Retinal thrombosis The following adverse reactions have been reported in patients receiving oral contraceptives and are believed to be drug-related: Nausea Vomiting Gastrointestinal symptoms (such as abdominal cramps and bloating) Breakthrough bleeding Spotting Change in menstrual flow Amenorrhea Temporary infertility after discontinuation of treatment Edema Melasma which may persist Breast changes: tenderness, enlargement, secretion Change in weight (increase or decrease) Change in cervical erosion and secretion Diminution in lactation when given immediately postpartum Cholestatic jaundice Migraine Rash (allergic) Depression Reduced tolerance to carbohydrates Vaginal candidiasis Change in corneal curvature (steepening) Intolerance to contact lenses The following adverse reactions have been reported in users of oral contraceptives and the association has been neither confirmed nor refuted: Pre-menstrual syndrome Cataracts Changes in appetite Cystitis-like syndrome Headache Nervousness Dizziness Hirsutism Loss of scalp hair Erythema multiforme Erythema nodosum Hemorrhagic eruption Vaginitis Porphyria Impaired renal function Hemolytic uremic syndrome Budd-Chiari syndrome Acne Changes in libido Colitis FIGURE 1: RELEVANT STUDIES OF RISK OF BREAST CANCER WITH COMBINED ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES
🤰 Pregnancy ▾
10. Pregnancy Discontinue norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol tablets if pregnancy occurs because there is no reason to use COCs in pregnancy. See WARNINGS section.
🧒 Pediatric Use ▾
12. Pediatric Use Safety and efficacy of norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol tablets have been established in women of reproductive age. Safety and efficacy are expected to be the same for postpubertal adolescents under the age of 16 and for users 16 years and older. Use of this product before menarche is not indicated.
🆘 Overdosage ▾
OVERDOSAGE Serious ill effects have not been reported following acute ingestion of large doses of oral contraceptives by young children. Overdosage may cause nausea, and withdrawal bleeding may occur in females. NON-CONTRACEPTIVE HEALTH BENEFITS The following non-contraceptive health benefits related to the use of oral contraceptives are supported by epidemiological studies which largely utilized oral contraceptive formulations containing estrogen doses exceeding 0.035 mg of ethinyl estradiol or 0.05 mg of mestranol (76-81).
Effects on menses: Increased menstrual cycle regularity Decreased blood loss and decreased incidence of iron deficiency anemia Decreased incidence of dysmenorrhea Effects related to inhibition of ovulation: Decreased incidence of functional ovarian cysts Decreased incidence of ectopic pregnancies Effects from long-term use: Decreased incidence of fibroadenomas and fibrocystic disease of the breast Decreased incidence of acute pelvic inflammatory disease Decreased incidence of endometrial cancer Decreased incidence of ovarian cancer
🧬 Clinical Pharmacology ▾
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY Combination oral contraceptives act by suppression of gonadotropins. Although the primary mechanism of this action is inhibition of ovulation, other alterations include changes in the cervical mucus (which increase the difficulty of sperm entry into the uterus) and the endometrium (which reduce the likelihood of implantation). Pharmacokinetics The pharmacokinetics of norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol tablets have not been characterized; however, the following pharmacokinetic information regarding norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol is taken from the literature.
Absorption Norethindrone acetate appears to be completely and rapidly deacetylated to norethindrone after oral administration, since the disposition of norethindrone acetate is indistinguishable from that of orally administered norethindrone (1). Norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol are subject to first-pass metabolism after oral dosing, resulting in an absolute bioavailability of approximately 64% for norethindrone and 43% for ethinyl estradiol (1-3). Distribution Volume of distribution of norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol ranges from 2 to 4 L/kg (1 to 3).
Plasma protein binding of both steroids is extensive (greater than 95%); norethindrone binds to both albumin and sex hormone binding globulin, whereas ethinyl estradiol binds only to albumin (4). Metabolism Norethindrone undergoes extensive biotransformation, primarily via reduction, followed by sulfate and glucuronide conjugation. The majority of metabolites in the circulation are sulfates, with glucuronides accounting for most of the urinary metabolites (5).
A small amount of norethindrone acetate is metabolically converted to ethinyl estradiol. Ethinyl estradiol is also extensively metabolized, both by oxidation and by conjugation with sulfate and glucuronide. Sulfates are the major circulating conjugates of ethinyl estradiol and glucuronides predominate in urine.
The primary oxidative metabolite is 2-hydroxy ethinyl estradiol, formed by the CYP3A4 isoform of cytochrome P450. Part of the first-pass metabolism of ethinyl estradiol is believed to occur in gastrointestinal mucosa. Ethinyl estradiol may undergo enterohepatic circulation (6).
Excretion Norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol are excreted in both urine and feces, primarily as metabolites (5, 6). Plasma clearance values for norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol are similar (approximately
0.4L/hr/kg) (1-3). Special Population Race The effect of race on the disposition of norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol tablets has not been evaluated. Renal Insufficiency The effect of renal disease on the disposition of norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol tablets has not been evaluated.
In premenopausal women with chronic renal failure undergoing peritoneal dialysis who received multiple doses of an oral contraceptive containing ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone, plasma ethinyl estradiol concentrations were higher and norethindrone concentrations were unchanged compared to concentrations in premenopausal women with normal renal function. Hepatic Insufficiency The effect of hepatic disease on the disposition of norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol tablets has not been evaluated. However, ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone may be poorly metabolized in patients with impaired liver function.
Drug-Drug Interactions Numerous drug-drug interactions have been reported for oral contraceptives. A summary of these is found under PRECAUTIONS , Drug Interactions .
📦 How Supplied / Storage and Handling ▾
HOW SUPPLIED Luizza 1/20 (Norethindrone Acetate and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets USP, 1 mg/20 mcg) is packaged in cartons (70700-313-79) of 3 pouches; each pouch (NDC 70700-313-78) contains a blister pack of 21 tablets. Each blister pack contains 21 white to off-white, round, flat-faced, unscored tablet debossed with 239 on one side and plain on the other side. Store at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F). [See USP Controlled Room Temperature.]
📋 Description ▾
DESCRIPTION Luizza 1/20 (Norethindrone Acetate and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets, USP) is a progestogen-estrogen combination. Each white to off-white tablet contains norethindrone acetate (19-Norpregn-4-en-20-yn-3-one, 17-(acetyloxy)-, (17α)), 1 mg; ethinyl estradiol (19-Norpregna-1,3,5(10)-trien-20-yne-3, 17-diol, (17α)-), 20 mcg. Also contains lactose anhydrous, dl -α-tocopherol, compressible sugar, croscarmellose sodium, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, povidone K-25, sodium lauryl sulphate.
The structural formulas are as follows: Ethinyl Estradiol and Norethindrone Acetate Structural Formulas
💬 Information for Patients ▾
BRIEF SUMMARY PATIENT PACKAGE INSERT This product (like all oral contraceptives) is intended to prevent pregnancy. It does not protect against HIV infection (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted infections. Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects from oral contraceptive use.
This risk increases with age and with heavy smoking (15 or more cigarettes per day) and is quite marked in women over 35 years of age. Women who use oral contraceptives are strongly advised not to smoke. Oral contraceptives, also known as "birth control pills" or "the pill", are taken to prevent pregnancy and, when taken correctly, have a failure rate of about 1% per year when used without missing any pills.
The typical failure rate of large numbers of pill users is less than 3% per year when women who miss pills are included. For most women oral contraceptives are also free of serious or unpleasant side effects. However, forgetting to take pills considerably increases the chances of pregnancy.
For the majority of women, oral contraceptives can be taken safely. But there are some women who are at high risk of developing certain serious diseases that can be life-threatening or may cause temporary or permanent disability. The risks associated with taking oral contraceptives increase significantly if you: Smoke Have high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol Have or have had clotting disorders, heart attack, stroke, angina pectoris, cancer of the breast, jaundice, or malignant or benign liver tumors.
You should not take the pill if you suspect you are pregnant or have unexplained vaginal bleeding. Most side effects of the pill are not serious. The most common side effects are nausea, vomiting, bleeding between menstrual periods, weight gain, breast tenderness, and difficulty wearing contact lenses.
These side effects, especially nausea, vomiting, and breakthrough bleeding may subside within the first three months of use. The serious side effects of the pill occur very infrequently, especially if you are in good health and are young. However, you should know that the following medical conditions have been associated with or made worse by the pill: 1.
Blood clots in the legs (thrombophlebitis), lungs (pulmonary embolism), stoppage or rupture of a blood vessel in the brain (stroke), blockage of blood vessels in the heart (heart attack or angina pectoris) or other organs of the body. As mentioned above, smoking increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes and subsequent serious medical consequences. 2.
Liver tumors, which may rupture and cause severe bleeding. A possible but not definite association has been found with the pill and liver cancer. However, liver cancers are extremely rare.
The chance of developing liver cancer from using the pill is thus even rarer. 3. High blood pressure, although blood pressure usually returns to normal when the pill is stopped.
The symptoms associated with these serious side effects are discussed in the detailed leaflet given to you with your supply of pills. Notify your doctor or healthcare provider if you notice any unusual physical disturbances while taking the pill. In addition, drugs such as rifampin, as well as some anticonvulsants and some antibiotics, may decrease oral contraceptive effectiveness.
There may be slight increases in the risk of breast cancer among current users of hormonal birth control pills with longer duration of use of 8 years or more. Some studies have found an increase in the risk of developing cancer of the cervix in women taking the pill, but this finding may be related to differences in sexual behavior or other factors not related to use of the pill. Taking the pill provides some important non-contraceptive benefits.
These include less painful menstruation, less menstrual blood loss and anemia, fewer pelvic infections, and fewer cancers of the ovary and the lining of the uterus. Be sure to discuss any medical condition you may have with your healthcare pr… [Excerpted — this section continues on DailyMed.]
⚠️ Precautions ▾
PRECAUTIONS 1. Patients should be counseled that this product does not protect against HIV infection (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted infections. 2.
Physical Examination and Follow-Up It is good medical practice for all women to have annual history and physical examinations, including women using oral contraceptives. The physical examination, however, may be deferred until after initiation of oral contraceptives if requested by the woman and judged appropriate by the clinician. The physical examination should include special reference to blood pressure, breasts, abdomen and pelvic organs, including cervical cytology, and relevant laboratory tests.
In case of undiagnosed, persistent or recurrent abnormal vaginal bleeding, appropriate measures should be conducted to rule out malignancy. Women with a strong family history of breast cancer or who have breast nodules should be monitored with particular care. 3.
Lipid Disorders Women who are being treated for hyperlipidemia should be followed closely if they elect to use oral contraceptives. Some progestogens may elevate LDL levels and may render the control of hyperlipidemias more difficult. 4.
Liver Function If jaundice develops in any woman receiving such drugs, the medication should be discontinued. Steroid hormones may be poorly metabolized in patients with impaired liver function. 5.
Fluid Retention Oral contraceptives may cause some degree of fluid retention. They should be prescribed with caution, and only with careful monitoring, in patients with conditions which might be aggravated by fluid retention. 6.
Contact Lenses Contact lens wearers who develop visual changes or changes in lens tolerance should be assessed by an ophthalmologist. 7. Drug Interactions Effects of Other Drugs on Oral Contraceptives (69) Rifampin: Metabolism of both norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol is increased by rifampin.
A reduction in contraceptive effectiveness and increased incidence of breakthrough bleeding and menstrual irregularities have been associated with concomitant use of rifampin. Anticonvulsants: Anticonvulsants such as phenobarbital, phenytoin, and carbamazepine, have been shown to increase the metabolism of ethinyl estradiol and/or norethindrone, which could result in a reduction in contraceptive effectiveness. Troglitazone: Administration of troglitazone with an oral contraceptive containing ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone reduced the plasma concentrations of both by approximately 30%, which could result in a reduction in contraceptive effectiveness.
Antibiotics: Pregnancy while taking oral contraceptives has been reported when the oral contraceptives were administered with antimicrobials such as ampicillin, tetracycline, and griseofulvin. However, clinical pharmacokinetic studies have not demonstrated any consistent effect of antibiotics (other than rifampin) on plasma concentrations of synthetic steroids. Atorvastatin: Coadministration of atorvastatin and an oral contraceptive increased AUC values for norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol by approximately 30% and 20%, respectively.
Concomitant Use with HCV Combination Therapy - Liver Enzyme Elevation: Co-administration of norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol tablets with HCV drug combinations containing ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir, with or without dasabuvir is contraindicated due to potential for ALT elevations (see Warnings , RISK OF LIVER ENZYME ELEVATIONS WITH CONCOMITANT HEPATITIS C TREATMENT ). Co-administration of norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol tablets and glecaprevir/pibrentasvir is not recommended due to potential for ALT elevations.
Other: Ascorbic acid and acetaminophen may increase plasma ethinyl estradiol concentrations, possibly by inhibition of conjugation. A reduction in contraceptive effectiveness and increased incidence of breakthrough bleeding has been suggested with phenylbutazone. Effects of Oral Contraceptives on Other Drugs Oral contraceptive combinations containing ethinyl e… [Excerpted — this section continues on DailyMed.]
🍼 Nursing Mothers ▾
11. Lactation Small amounts of oral contraceptive steroids have been identified in human milk, and a few adverse effects on the child have been reported, including jaundice and breast enlargement. In addition, oral contraceptives given in the postpartum period may interfere with lactation by decreasing the quantity and quality of breast milk.
If possible, the nursing mother should be advised not to use oral contraceptives but to use other forms of contraception until she has completely weaned her child.
🧬 Pharmacokinetics ▾
Pharmacokinetics The pharmacokinetics of norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol tablets have not been characterized; however, the following pharmacokinetic information regarding norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol is taken from the literature. Absorption Norethindrone acetate appears to be completely and rapidly deacetylated to norethindrone after oral administration, since the disposition of norethindrone acetate is indistinguishable from that of orally administered norethindrone (1). Norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol are subject to first-pass metabolism after oral dosing, resulting in an absolute bioavailability of approximately 64% for norethindrone and 43% for ethinyl estradiol (1-3).
Distribution Volume of distribution of norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol ranges from 2 to 4 L/kg (1 to 3). Plasma protein binding of both steroids is extensive (greater than 95%); norethindrone binds to both albumin and sex hormone binding globulin, whereas ethinyl estradiol binds only to albumin (4). Metabolism Norethindrone undergoes extensive biotransformation, primarily via reduction, followed by sulfate and glucuronide conjugation.
The majority of metabolites in the circulation are sulfates, with glucuronides accounting for most of the urinary metabolites (5). A small amount of norethindrone acetate is metabolically converted to ethinyl estradiol. Ethinyl estradiol is also extensively metabolized, both by oxidation and by conjugation with sulfate and glucuronide.
Sulfates are the major circulating conjugates of ethinyl estradiol and glucuronides predominate in urine. The primary oxidative metabolite is 2-hydroxy ethinyl estradiol, formed by the CYP3A4 isoform of cytochrome P450. Part of the first-pass metabolism of ethinyl estradiol is believed to occur in gastrointestinal mucosa.
Ethinyl estradiol may undergo enterohepatic circulation (6). Excretion Norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol are excreted in both urine and feces, primarily as metabolites (5, 6). Plasma clearance values for norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol are similar (approximately
0.4L/hr/kg) (1-3).
📚 References ▾
REFERENCES Back DJ, Breckenridge AM, Crawford FE, Mclver M, Orme ML'E, Rowe PH and Smith E: Kinetics of norethindrone in women II. Single-dose kinetics. Clin Pharmacol Ther 1978; 24:448-453.
Hümpel M, Nieuweboer B, Wendt H and Speck U: Investigations of pharmacokinetics of ethinyl estradiol to specific consideration of a possible first-pass effect in women. Contraception 1979;19:421-432. Back DJ, Breckenridge AM, Crawford FE, Maclver M, Orme ML'E, Rowe PH and Watts MJ.
An investigation of the pharmacokinetics of ethinyl estradiol in women using radioimmunoassay. Contraception 1979;20:263-273. Hammond GL, Lähteenmäki PLA, Lähteenmäki P and Luukkainen T.
Distribution and percentages of non-protein bound contraceptive steroids in human serum. J Steriod Biochem 1982;17:375-380. Fotherby K.
Pharmacokinetics and metabolism of progestins in humans, in Pharmacology of the contraceptive steroids, Goldzieher JW, Fotherby K (eds), Raven Press, Ltd., New York, 1994;99-126. Goldzieher JW. Pharmacokinetics and metabolism of ethynyl estrogens, in Pharmacology of the contraceptive steroids, Goldzieher JW, Fotherby K (eds), Raven Press Ltd., New York, 1994;127-151.
Hatcher RA, et al. 1998. Contraceptive Technology, Seventeenth Edition.
New York: Irvington Publishers. Stadel, B.V.: Oral contraceptives and cardiovascular disease. (Pt.
1). New England Journal of Medicine, 305:612-618, 1981. Stadel, B.V.: Oral contraceptives and cardiovascular disease.
(Pt. 2). New England Journal of Medicine, 305:672-677, 1981.
Adam, S.A., and M. Thorogood: Oral contraception and myocardial infarction revisited: The effects of new preparations and prescribing patterns. Brit.
J. Obstet. and Gynec., 88:838-845, 1981. Mann, J.I., and W.H.
Inman: Oral contraceptives and death from myocardial infarction. Brit. Med.
J., 2(5965): 245-248, 1975. Mann, J.I., M.P. Vessey, M.
Thorogood, and R. Doll: Myocardial infarction in young women with special reference to oral contraceptive practice. Brit.
Med. J., 2(5956):241-245, 1975. Royal College of General Practitioners' Oral Contraception Study: Further analyses of mortality in oral contraceptive users.
Lancet, 1:541-546, 1981. Slone, D., S. Shapiro, D.W.
Kaufman, L. Rosenberg, O.S. Miettinen, and P.D.
Stolley: Risk of myocardial infarction in relation to current and discontinued use of oral contraceptives. N.E.J.M., 305:420-424, 1981. Vessey, M.P.: Female hormones and vascular disease: An epidemiological overview.
Brit. J. Fam.
Plann., 6:1-12, 1980. Russell-Briefel, R.G., T.M. Ezzati, R.
Fulwood, J.A. Perlman, and R.S. Murphy: Cardiovascular risk status and oral contraceptive use, United States, 1976-80.
Preventive Medicine , 15:352-362, 1986. Goldbaum, G.M., J.S. Kendrick, G.C.
Hogelin, and E.M. Gentry: The relative impact of smoking and oral contraceptive use on women in the United States. J.A.M.A., 258:1339-1342, 1987.
Layde, P.M., and V. Beral: Further analyses of mortality in oral contraceptive users: Royal College General Practitioners' Oral Contraception Study. (Table 5) Lancet, 1:541-546, 1981.
Knopp, R.H.: Arteriosclerosis risk: The roles of oral contraceptives and postmenopausal estrogens. J. of Reprod. Med., 31(9)(Supplement): 913-921, 1986.
Krauss, R.M., S. Roy, D.R. Mishell, J.
Casagrande, and M.C. Pike: Effects of two low-dose oral contraceptives on serum lipids and lipoproteins: Differential changes in high-density lipoproteins subclasses. Am.
J. Obstet. Gyn., 145:446-452, 1983.
Wahl, P., C. Walden, R. Knopp, J.
Hoover, R. Wallace, G. Heiss, and B.
Rifkind: Effect of estrogen/progestin potency on lipid/lipoprotein cholesterol. N.E.J.M., 308:862-867, 1983. Wynn, V., and R.
Niththyananthan: The effect of progestin in combined oral contraceptives on serum lipids with special reference to high-density lipoproteins. Am. J.
Obstet. and Gyn., 142:766-771, 1982. Wynn, V., and I. Godsland: Effects of oral contraceptives on carbohydrate metabolism.
J. Reprod. Medicine, 31 (9)(Supplement): 892-897, 1986.
LaRosa, J.C.: Athe… [Excerpted — this section continues on DailyMed.]
📄 Patient Package Insert ▾
DETAILED PATIENT PACKAGE INSERT Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects from oral contraceptive use. This risk increases with age and with heavy smoking (15 or more cigarettes per day) and is quite marked in women over 35 years of age. Women who use oral contraceptives are strongly advised not to smoke.
This product (like all oral contraceptives) is intended to prevent pregnancy. It does not protect against HIV infection (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted infections. What You Should Know About Oral Contraceptives Any woman who considers using oral contraceptives (the "birth control pill" or "the pill") should understand the benefits and risks of using this form of birth control.
This leaflet will give you much of the information you will need to make this decision and will also help you determine if you are at risk of developing any of the serious side effects of the pill. It will tell you how to use the pill properly so that it will be as effective as possible. However, this leaflet is not a replacement for a careful discussion between you and your healthcare provider.
You should discuss the information provided in this leaflet with him or her, both when you first start taking the pill and during your revisits. You should also follow your healthcare provider's advice with regard to regular check-ups while you are on the pill. EFFECTIVENESS OF ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES Oral contraceptives or "birth control pills" or "the pill" are used to prevent pregnancy and are more effective than other non-surgical methods of birth control.
When they are taken correctly, the chance of becoming pregnant is less than 1% (1 pregnancy per 100 women per year of use) when used perfectly, without missing any pills. Typical failure rates are actually 3% per year. The chance of becoming pregnant increases with each missed pill during a menstrual cycle.
In comparison, typical failure rates for other methods of birth control during the first year of use are as follows: Implant: < 1% Male sterilization: < 1% Injection: < 1% Cervical Cap: 20 to 40% IUD: < 1% to 2% Condom alone (male): 14% Diaphragm with spermicides: 20% Condom alone (female): 21% Spermicides alone: 26% Periodic abstinence: 25% Vaginal Sponge: 20 to 40% Withdrawal: 19% Female sterilization: < 1% No method: 85% WHO SHOULD NOT TAKE ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects from oral contraceptive use.
This risk increases with age and with heavy smoking (15 or more cigarettes per day) and is quite marked in women over 35 years of age. Women who use oral contraceptives are strongly advised not to smoke. Some women should not use the pill.
For example, you should not take the pill if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant. You should also not use the pill if you have any of the following conditions: A history of heart attack or stroke Blood clots in the legs (thrombophlebitis), lungs (pulmonary embolism), or eyes A history of blood clots in the deep veins of your legs Chest pain (angina pectoris) Known or suspected breast cancer Unexplained vaginal bleeding (until a diagnosis is reached by your doctor) Yellowing of the whites of the eyes or of the skin (jaundice) during pregnancy or during previous use of the pill Liver tumor (benign or cancerous) Take any Hepatitis C drug combination containing ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir, with or without dasabuvir.
This may increase levels of the liver enzyme “alanine aminotransferase” (ALT) in the blood. Tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had any of these conditions. Your healthcare provider can recommend a safer method of birth control.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS BEFORE TAKING ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES Tell your healthcare provider if you have: Breast nodules, fibrocystic disease of the breast, an abnormal breast x-ray or mammogram Diabetes Elevated cholesterol or triglycerides High blood pressure Migraine or other headaches or epilepsy Depression Gallblad… [Excerpted — this section continues on DailyMed.]
📖 Instructions for Use ▾
INSTRUCTIONS TO PATIENT TABLET BLISTER PACK The Luizza 1/20 blister pack has been designed to make oral contraceptive dosing as easy and as convenient as possible. The tablets are arranged in three rows of seven tablets each, with the days of the week appearing above the first row of tablets. If your TABLET BLISTER PACK contains: You are taking: 21 white to off-white tablets Luizza 1/20 Each white to off-white tablet contains 1 mg norethindrone acetate and 20 mcg ethinyl estradiol.
DIRECTIONS To remove a tablet, press down on it with your thumb or finger. The tablet will drop through the back of the tablet blister. Do not press with your thumbnail, fingernail, or any other sharp object.
HOW TO TAKE THE PILL IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER BEFORE YOU START TAKING YOUR PILLS: 1. BE SURE TO READ THESE DIRECTIONS: Before you start taking your pills. Anytime you are not sure what to do.
2. THE RIGHT WAY TO TAKE THE PILL IS TO TAKE ONE PILL EVERY DAY AT THE SAME TIME. If you miss pills you could get pregnant.
This includes starting the pack late. The more pills you miss, the more likely you are to get pregnant. 3.
MANY WOMEN HAVE SPOTTING OR LIGHT BLEEDING, OR MAY FEEL SICK TO THEIR STOMACH, DURING THE FIRST 1 to 3 PACKS OF PILLS. If you do have spotting or light bleeding or feel sick to your stomach, do not stop taking the pill. The problem will usually go away.
If it doesn't go away, check with your doctor or clinic. 4. MISSING PILLS CAN ALSO CAUSE SPOTTING OR LIGHT BLEEDING, even when you make up these missed pills.
On the days you take 2 pills to make up for missed pills, you could also feel a little sick to your stomach. 5. IF YOU HAVE VOMITING OR DIARRHEA, for any reason, or IF YOU TAKE SOME MEDICINES, including some antibiotics, your birth control pills may not work as well.
Use a back-up birth control method (such as condoms or foam) until you check with your doctor or clinic. 6. IF YOU HAVE TROUBLE REMEMBERING TO TAKE THE PILL, talk to your doctor or clinic about how to make pill-taking easier or about using another method of birth control.
7. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR ARE UNSURE ABOUT THE INFORMATION IN THIS LEAFLET, call your doctor or clinic. BEFORE YOU START TAKING YOUR PILLS 1.
DECIDE WHAT TIME OF DAY YOU WANT TO TAKE YOUR PILL. It is important to take it at about the same time every day. 2.
LOOK AT YOUR PILL PACK TO SEE IF IT HAS 21 PILLS: The 21-Day pill pack has 21 "active" white to off-white pills (with hormones) to take for 3 weeks, followed by 1 week without pills. 3. ALSO FIND: 1) where on the pack to start taking pills, 2) in what order to take the pills (follow the arrows), and 3) the week numbers as shown in the following pictures: Luizza 1/20 tablets contain: ALL WHITE TO OFF-WHITE PILLS.
4. BE SURE YOU HAVE READY AT ALL TIMES: ANOTHER KIND OF BIRTH CONTROL (such as condoms or foam) to use as a back-up in case you miss pills. An EXTRA, FULL PILL PACK.
WHEN TO START THE FIRST PACK OF PILLS You have a choice of which day to start taking your first pack of pills. Decide with your doctor or clinic which is the best day for you. Pick a time of day which will be easy to remember.
DAY-1 START: 1. Pick the day label strip that starts with the first day of your period. (This is the day you start bleeding or spotting, even if it is almost midnight when the bleeding begins.) 2.
Place this day label strip on the tablet blister card over the area that has the days of the week (starting with Sunday) printed on the blister card. 3. Take the first "active" white to off-white pill of the first pack during the first 24 hours of your period.
4. You will not need to use a back-up method of birth control, since you are starting the pill at the beginning of your period. SUNDAY START: 1.
Take the first "active" white to off-white pill of the first pack on the Sunday after your period starts , even if you are still bleeding. If your period begins on Sunday, start the pack that same day. 2.
Use another method of birth control as a b… [Excerpted — this section continues on DailyMed.]
📄 Package Label / Principal Display Panel ▾
PRINCIPAL DISPLAY PANEL - 1 mg/0.02 mg NDC 70700-313-79 Rx only Luizza 1/20 (Norethindrone Acetate and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets USP, 1 mg/20 mcg) Norethindrone Acetate and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets Label