Levonorgestrel vs Tibolone: side-by-side comparison
Levonorgestrel (Synthetic progestin (emergency contraception)) and Tibolone (Synthetic steroid (STEAR)) belong to different therapeutic classes and are rarely substitutes for each other. The comparison is useful when a single patient is weighing both options for adjacent or overlapping needs.
| Property | Levonorgestrel | Tibolone |
|---|---|---|
| Therapeutic class | Synthetic progestin (emergency contraception) | Synthetic steroid (STEAR) |
| CAS | 797-63-7 | 5630-53-5 |
| ATC | G03AC03 | G03CX01 |
| Molecular weight | 312.5 g/mol | 312.45 g/mol |
| Brands with this active ingredient | 1 | 1 |
What they share
Levonorgestrel and Tibolone share the common regulatory framework for prescription active ingredients, bioequivalence standards for generics, and pharmacist oversight. Beyond that, points in common are limited.
Key differences
Levonorgestrel acts by a different mechanism than Tibolone, with indications that barely overlap. Comparing the two is useful when a clinician has mentioned both in the same context or the patient wants to understand why one was prescribed instead of the other.
Mechanisms compared
Levonorgestrel: En contraception d'urgence, le lévonorgestrel agit principalement en retardant ou en inhibant l'ovulation lorsqu'il est pris avant le pic de LH. Tibolone: La tibolone est un promédicament : dès son absorption, elle est rapidement convertie en trois métabolites actifs (3α-OH-tibolone, 3β-OH-tibolone et Δ4-tibolone), à l'activité sélective des tissus différente.
Indications compared
Levonorgestrel: Le lévonorgestrel est autorisé en contraception d'urgence (dose unique de 1,5 mg), en contraception orale régulière (associé à l'éthinylestradiol ou en progestatif seul), et comme principe actif des dispositifs intra-uté… Tibolone: La tibolone est autorisée, dans les pays où elle dispose d'une AMM, dans le traitement des symptômes vasomoteurs modérés à sévères de la ménopause et dans la prévention de l'ostéoporose post-ménopausique, chez les femmes…
Safety profile
Levonorgestrel: Les effets indésirables fréquents de la contraception d'urgence comprennent nausées, céphalées, fatigue, vertiges, tension mammaire et modifications du cycle menstruel. Tibolone: Les effets indésirables fréquents comprennent saignements ou spottings vaginaux (surtout durant les 3 premiers mois), tension mammaire, variations de poids, céphalées et vertiges.
Questions fréquentes
Is Levonorgestrel better than Tibolone? ▾
Levonorgestrel and Tibolone are not "better or worse" — they treat different things. The sensible question is which fits your specific need.
Can Levonorgestrel and Tibolone be combined? ▾
Whether they can be combined depends on the indications and the interaction profile of each. If both are in a single prescription, the prescriber has weighed it; in self-medication they should never be combined.
Do they have the same side-effect profile? ▾
No — they belong to different classes and have distinct side-effect profiles. Each has its own prescribing information.
Products with Levonorgestrel
Products with Tibolone
Les informations publiées sur ce site sont fournies à titre documentaire et pédagogique. Elles ne remplacent pas l'avis d'un professionnel de santé qualifié.