Is a Generic Levlite Available?
Levlite® (levonorgestrel/ethinyl estradiol) is one of the many
birth control pills currently available. It belongs to a group of medications known as combined
oral contraceptives, so named because they contain both an estrogen and a progestin hormone.
Levlite is made by Berlex Laboratories. Generic Levlite is available, although it is sold under names that sound like "brand" names (rather than the usual generic name).
Currently, generic Levlite is sold under the names
Lessina® (made by Barr Laboratories) and
Spronyx™ (made by Watson Laboratories). The generic names of birth control pills can be very confusing; the names are long, and several different products can have the same generic name even though they are very different. To avoid confusion, the makers of
generic birth control pills give their versions a "brand name," instead of using the standard generic name. These products are still generics, even though they seem like brand-name products. These generic products are usually less expensive and are more likely to be covered by insurance.
Are Generics Just as Good as Levlite?
All generic medications must undergo certain tests to compare them to brand-name medications. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) then looks at these tests to decide whether the generics are equivalent to the brand-name medications and assigns each generic a rating. An "AB" rating means that the FDA has determined that a generic medication is equivalent to a brand-name medication. Lessina and Spronyx both have an "AB" rating, meaning they should be equivalent to Levlite.
However, generic medications are allowed to have different inactive ingredients than the brand-name medication. This might include fillers or dyes or other ingredients that may cause problems for people with
allergies or sensitivities.
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