Related Experiment Videos
Beyaz®: an oral contraceptive fortified with folate
1Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Santa Chiara Hospital, via Roma 35, 56100 Pisa, Italy. ffruzzi@tin.it
Abstract:
Beyaz(®) (Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Berlin, Germany) consists of 28 film-coated tablets: 24 tablets each containing 3 mg drospirenone plus 20 µg ethinylestradiol (EE) and 451 µg levomefolate calcium followed by four tablets, each containing 451 µg levomefolate calcium. It has the same indications of the parent compound 20 µg EE/3 mg drospirenone in a 24/4-day regimen (i.e., contraception, moderate acne, premenstrual dysforic disorder). In addition, the 24-day regimen with 20 µg EE/3 mg drospirenone/levomefolate calcium assure significant increases in red blood cell and plasma folate levels reaching values indicated to be protective in reducing the risk of neural tube defects. A progressive decrease in folate levels has been observed in women taking a 30 µg EE pill fortified with the same dose of levomefolate calcium upon discontinuation. At 4 and 8 weeks following cessation of the oral contraceptive, red blood cell folate levels >906 nmol/l were measured in 85 and 60% of women respectively. Because of this, the folate-containing pill may aid in reducing the risk of neural tube defects in a pregnancy conceived during use or shortly after the discontinuation of the product.
Related Concept Videos
Birth Control Methods
Oral Drug Delivery Systems: Continuous-Release Systems
Bioavailability Enhancement: Drug Stability Enhancement and GI Retention
FDA Approved Drugs: Changes to Approved Drugs
Bioavailability Enhancement: Drug Permeability Enhancement
Oral Drug Delivery Systems: Introduction