Generic Nordette

There are currently several forms of generic Nordette. These generic products, which are sold under the names Levora and Portia, have been given an "AB" rating by the FDA, meaning they are equivalent to brand-name Nordette. However, it is important to note that generic Nordette products may contain different inactive ingredients that could cause problems for people with allergies or sensitivities.

 

Is a Generic Nordette Available?

Nordette® (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. Combined oral contraceptives are very effective and are the most commonly used type of birth control pills.
 
Nordette is made by Duramed Pharmaceuticals, a division of Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Generic Nordette is available, although it is sold under names that look like "brand" names (rather than the usual generic name).
 

Generic Nordette Names

Currently, generic Nordette is sold under the names Levora® (made by Watson Laboratories) and Portia® (made by Barr Laboratories). The generic names of birth control pills can be very confusing; the names are long, and multiple 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.
 

Is Nordette Better Than the Generics?

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 if 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. Portia and Levora both have an "AB" rating, meaning they should be equivalent to Nordette.
 
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. The packaging of generic birth control pills may also be different from the brand-name version.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;