US formulation reference

Desogestrel and ethinyl estradiol birth control pill reference

Q: Does sharing an ingredient family mean two birth control pills are interchangeable?

No. Ingredient names, strengths, tablet sequence, labeling, packaging, and patient instructions must all be considered for the exact product. A pharmacist should answer an interchangeability or substitution question.

Q: Where can I find instructions for my exact birth control pill pack?

Open the official label for the exact product and market, read the leaflet supplied with your medicine, and ask a pharmacist or qualified healthcare professional for personal guidance.

This US reference groups selected brands whose labels list desogestrel and ethinyl estradiol. It makes the label sequence visible but does not establish that products can be substituted.

Selected official-label products

Each card below links to a US DailyMed label. The grouping reflects the ingredient or pack family named in that label, not a clinical recommendation or substitution decision.

Reclipsen

Ingredients: Desogestrel 0.15 mg and ethinyl estradiol 0.03 mg

Pack: 28 tablets: 21 active tablets, then 7 inert tablets.

Label update: January 4, 2022

View the Reclipsen reference

Kariva

Ingredients: Desogestrel 0.15 mg and ethinyl estradiol 0.02 mg, with ethinyl estradiol 0.01 mg tablets

Pack: 28 tablets: 21 active combination tablets, 2 inert tablets, then 5 ethinyl estradiol tablets.

Label update: March 26, 2024

View the Kariva reference

Do not use this page to self-substitute

A shared ingredient family does not settle a pharmacy substitution or personal treatment decision. Check the exact name, strength, tablet sequence, and leaflet for the pack in your hand. Ask the dispensing pharmacist to explain any change.

Read the US pharmacy brand-switch guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Does sharing an ingredient family mean two birth control pills are interchangeable?

No. Ask a pharmacist about a substitution or equivalence question for your exact pack.

Where can I find instructions for my exact birth control pill pack?

Open the official label linked above and read the leaflet supplied with your medicine.

Sources

Reclipsen official product label, DailyMed, US National Library of Medicine.
Kariva official product label, DailyMed, US National Library of Medicine.
Source review date: August 21, 2026.

Keep your routine together

Use Estroclic to record your current pill, schedule, and personal timeline.

Estroclic is a personal tracking app. It can help you organize information, but your patient leaflet, pharmacist, or clinician remains the right source for personal medical guidance.

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Estroclic provides general information and personal tracking tools, not medical, pharmaceutical, or clinical advice. Check the patient information leaflet for your exact medicine and speak with a pharmacist or qualified healthcare professional when you need individual guidance.