Is Generic Ortho-Novum Available?
- Ortho-Novum 1/50 (norethindrone and mestranol) -- A "monophasic" pill with a high dose of estrogen
- Ortho-Novum 1/35 (norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol) -- A "monophasic" birth control pill
- Ortho-Novum 10/11 (norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol) -- A "biphasic" birth control pill
- Ortho-Novum 7/7/7 (norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol) -- A "triphasic" birth control pill.
Ortho-Novum is made by Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc. Generic Ortho-Novum is available, although it is sold under what looks like other brand names, rather than the usual generic name.
Names of Generic Ortho-Novum
The generic names of birth control pills can be confusing -- the names are long, and many different products can have the same generic name, even though they are quite different. To avoid confusion, manufacturers 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, due to their names. The fact that there are four different kinds of Ortho-Novum products makes it even more confusing. Refer to the following chart for generic versions of Ortho-Novum:
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Norinyl® Equivalents
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Necon® Generics
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Nortrel® Generics
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Ortho-Novum 1/35
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|
|
|
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Ortho-Novum 1/50
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Norinyl 1+50
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Necon 1/50
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--
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Ortho-Novum 10/11
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--
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Necon 10/11
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--
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|
Ortho-Novum 7/7/7
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--
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Necon 7/7/7
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Nortrel 7/7/7
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Necon and Norinyl are made by Watson Pharmaceuticals, while Nortrel is made by Barr Pharmaceuticals. Some people consider Norinyl to be a generic product, as it is made by Watson Pharmaceuticals (a generic manufacturer), while others consider it a brand-name drug, because it was originally made by a brand-name manufacturer (G.D. Searle).
