Sprintec vs. Aviane
See how Sprintec and Aviane compare on approved uses, dosing, side effects, and cost.
Key Takeaways
Sprintec and Aviane are both daily combination birth control pills, but Sprintec is also FDA-approved to treat moderate acne while Aviane is not.
Aviane uses a lower estrogen dose than Sprintec and its label carries a boxed warning specifically about smoking-related cardiovascular risk.
Both pills carry similar cardiovascular risks for women over 35 who smoke, so this should be discussed with a prescriber regardless of which pill is chosen.
Sprintec vs. Aviane Drug Summary
Sprintec
Sprintec is a monophasic combination oral contraceptive with norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol, taken once daily to prevent pregnancy. Its 28-day pack has 21 active tablets and 7 inert tablets, and it's also approved to treat moderate acne.
Aviane
Aviane is a low-dose combination oral contraceptive with levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol, taken once daily to prevent pregnancy. Its 28-day pack has 21 active orange tablets followed by 7 inert tablets, marketed for lower estrogen exposure.
Sprintec vs. Aviane Side Effects
Sprintec
Aviane
Sprintec vs. Aviane Dosage
Sprintec
Aviane
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 1 tablet once daily | Days 1-28 |
| Maximum dose | 1 tablet once daily | Same as starting |
| Dose changes | None | Fixed dose |
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 1 orange tablet daily | Days 1-21 |
| Maximum dose | 1 inert tablet daily | Days 22-28 |
| Dose changes | 1 increase | Every 21 days |
Sprintec
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 1 tablet once daily | Days 1-28 |
| Maximum dose | 1 tablet once daily | Same as starting |
| Dose changes | None | Fixed dose |
Aviane
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 1 orange tablet daily | Days 1-21 |
| Maximum dose | 1 inert tablet daily | Days 22-28 |
| Dose changes | 1 increase | Every 21 days |
Sprintec vs. Aviane Indications
Sprintec
Sprintec is FDA-approved to prevent pregnancy, and it's also commonly prescribed off-label for moderate acne in females 15 and older without contraindications to hormonal birth control. It is not approved for emergency contraception or for women over 35 who smoke.
Prevents pregnancy when taken daily as directed
Also FDA-approved to treat moderate acne in females 15+
Monophasic dosing: same hormone dose every active day
Not approved as emergency contraception
Not for women over 35 who smoke
Aviane
Aviane is FDA-approved only to prevent pregnancy in females of reproductive age. It has not been evaluated for use in women with a BMI above 35 kg/m2, and like all combined pills, it does not protect against HIV or other STIs.
Prevents pregnancy when taken daily as directed
Low-dose formulation designed to reduce estrogen exposure
Not evaluated for use in patients with BMI over 35
Does not protect against HIV or other STIs
Not for women over 35 who smoke
Sprintec vs. Aviane Pros and Cons
Sprintec
Sprintec is a monophasic combination pill that also carries FDA approval for treating moderate acne, giving it a use beyond contraception alone. It carries the same cardiovascular warnings as other combined pills for women over 35 who smoke. As a well-established generic, it is widely stocked and typically covered by insurance formularies.
Pros
FDA-approved to treat moderate acne, not just contraception
Monophasic dosing keeps the same hormone dose every active day
Norgestimate has lower androgenic activity, often preferred for acne-prone skin
Cons
Slightly higher estrogen dose than Aviane's low-dose formula
Headache reported in up to 33% of users in trials
Not approved for use as emergency contraception
Aviane
Aviane is a low-dose combination pill designed to lower estrogen exposure while still preventing pregnancy effectively. It has the longest track record of the two, having been approved since 1968, and is available as a generic version of Alesse. Like Sprintec, it carries cardiovascular risks for smokers, but its label includes a boxed warning highlighting this risk.
Pros
Low-dose formulation (0.02 mg estrogen) designed to reduce estrogen exposure
Longest FDA approval history of the two, on the market since 1968
Available as a lower-cost generic version of Alesse
Cons
Not approved for acne treatment like Sprintec
Not evaluated for use in patients with BMI over 35 kg/m2
Label carries a boxed warning on smoking-related cardiovascular risk
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