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Etonogestrel: uses, dosing, side effects & brands

Etonogestrel is a medicine sold in the U.S. under 2 brand and generic names. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.

By the pharmaranks editorial teamReviewed against the FDA (openFDA label, NDC Directory & Enforcement) sourcesUpdated Jul 24, 2026How we research

Key facts

Available as
Implant
Sold as
2 products — Implanon and Nexplanon
Prescription?
Prescription only
Generic available?
Not in our catalog
Boxed warning
Boxed warning

How etonogestrel is dosed

From the FDA label for Implanon (application NDA021529). Other etonogestrel products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.

The efficacy of NEXPLANON does not depend on daily, weekly, or monthly administration. All healthcare professionals should receive instruction and training prior to performing insertion and/or removal of NEXPLANON. A single NEXPLANON implant is inserted subdermally just under the skin at the inner side of the non-dominant upper arm. The insertion site is overlying the triceps muscle about 8-10 cm (3-4 inches) from the medial epicondyle of the humerus and 3-5 cm (1.25-2 inches) posterior to (below) the sulcus (groove) between the biceps and triceps muscles. This location is intended to avoid the large blood vessels and nerves lying within and surrounding the sulcus (see Figures 2a , 2b and 2c ). Inserting an implant more deeply than subdermally (a deep insertion) may preclude palpation and localization, making removal difficult or impossible [see Dosage and Administration (2.3) and Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] . NEXPLANON must be inserted by the expiration date stated on the packaging. NEXPLANON is a long-acting (up to 5 years), reversible, hormonal contraceptive method. The implant must be removed by the end of the fifth year and may be replaced by a new implant at the time of removal, if continued contraceptive protection is desired. Insert one NEXPLANON subdermally just under the skin at the inner side of the non-dominant upper arm. NEXPLANON must be removed no later…

Etonogestrel side effects

The following adverse reactions reported with the use of hormonal contraception are discussed elsewhere in the labeling: Changes in Menstrual Bleeding Patterns [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] Ectopic Pregnancies [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] Thrombotic and Other Vascular Events [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ] Liver Disease [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8) ] Most common (≥10%) adverse reactions reported in clinical trials were change in menstrual bleeding pattern, headache, vaginitis, weight increase, acne, breast pain, abdominal pain, and pharyngitis. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Organon USA LLC, a subsidiary of Organon & Co., at 1-844-674-3200 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice, because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions. In clinical trials of three years duration involving 942 women who were evaluated for safety, change in menstrual bleeding patterns (irregular menses) was the most common adverse reaction causing discontinuation of use of the non-radiopaque etonogestrel implant (IMPLANON) (11.1% of women). Adverse reactions that resulted in a rate of discontinuation…

Who shouldn’t take etonogestrel

NEXPLANON should not be used in women who have Known or suspected pregnancy Current or past history of thrombosis or thromboembolic disorders Liver tumors, benign or malignant, or active liver disease Undiagnosed abnormal uterine bleeding Known or suspected breast cancer, personal history of breast cancer, or other progestin-sensitive cancer, now or in the past Allergic reaction to any of the components of NEXPLANON [see Adverse Reactions (6) ] Known or suspected pregnancy. ( 4 ) Current or past history of thrombosis or thromboembolic disorders. ( 4 , 5.5 ) Liver tumors, benign or malignant, or active liver disease. ( 4 , 5.8 ) Undiagnosed abnormal uterine bleeding. ( 4 , 5.3 ) Known or suspected breast cancer, personal history of breast cancer, or other progestin-sensitive cancer, now or in the past. ( 4 , 5.7 ) Allergic reaction to any of the components of NEXPLANON. ( 4 , 6 )

Etonogestrel drug interactions

Consult the labeling of concurrently-used drugs to obtain further information about interactions with hormonal contraceptives or the potential for enzyme alterations. Drugs or herbal products that induce certain enzymes, such as CYP3A4, may decrease the effectiveness of progestin hormonal contraceptives or increase breakthrough bleeding. ( 7.1 ) 7.1 Effects of Other Drugs on Hormonal Contraceptives Substances decreasing the plasma concentrations of hormonal contraceptives (HCs) and potentially diminishing the efficacy of HCs: Drugs or herbal products that induce certain enzymes, including cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4), may decrease the plasma concentrations of HCs and potentially diminish the effectiveness of HCs or increase breakthrough bleeding. Some drugs or herbal products that may decrease the effectiveness of HCs include efavirenz, phenytoin, barbiturates, carbamazepine, bosentan, felbamate, griseofulvin, oxcarbazepine, rifampicin, topiramate, rifabutin, rufinamide, aprepitant, and products containing St. John's wort. Interactions between HCs and other drugs may lead to breakthrough bleeding and/or contraceptive failure. Counsel women to use an alternative non-hormonal method of contraception or a back-up method when enzyme inducers are used with HCs, and to continue back-up non-hormonal contraception for 28 days after discontinuing the enzyme inducer to ensure contraceptive reliability. Substances increasing the plasma concentrations of HCs: Co-administration of certain HCs and strong or moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors such as itraconazole, voriconazole, fluconazole, grapefruit juice, or ketoconazole may increase the serum concentrations of progestins, including etonogestrel. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) protease inhibitors and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors: Significant changes (increase or decrease) in the plasma concentrations of progestin have been noted in cases of co-administration with HIV protease inhibitors (decrease [e.g., nelfinavir] or increase [e.g., indinavir, ritonavir and ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitors]) or with non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (decrease [e.g., nevirapine, efavirenz] or increase [e.g., etravirine]). These changes may be clinically relevant in some cases. Consult the prescribing information of anti-viral and anti-retroviral concomitant medications to identify potential interactions. 7.2 Effects of Hormonal Contraceptives on Other Drugs Hormonal contraceptives may affect the metabolism of other drugs. Consequently, plasma concentrations may either increase (for example, cyclosporine) or decrease (for example, lamotrigine). Consult the labeling of all concurrently-used drugs to obtain further information about interactions with hormonal contraceptives or the potential for enzyme alterations.

Every etonogestrel product we track (2)

Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.

Etonogestrel products
#DrugRatingPharmacy pays
170/100View →
270/100View →

Combination products containing etonogestrel

A combination is a different drug — different dosing, different warnings. It is listed here so you can find it, not so you can substitute it.

How long etonogestrel keeps

No etonogestrel label we read sets a separate limit for after opening, but they do specify how it must be stored — and the stability behind any date assumes those conditions.

Does etonogestrel expire? The in-use limits and storage rules from its labels

Etonogestrel and breastfeeding

From LactMed, the US National Library of Medicine’s Drugs and Lactation Database — quoted, not rewritten.

Etonogestrel is available in the United States in a combination contraceptive vaginal ring (NuvaRing) that releases 120 mcg of etonogestrel and 15 mcg of ethinyl estradiol daily, and subcutaneous implants (Implanon, Nexplanon) that release etonogestrel at a decreasing rate over a 3-year period.

Full LactMed record for etonogestrel: levels in milk, effects in breastfed infants, and the drugs it would consider instead

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, record revised July 15, 2026. LactMed states its information is not a substitute for professional judgement.

What people report to the FDA about etonogestrel

The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collects reports from patients and clinicians. It holds 3,544 reports naming etonogestrel, and the FDA flagged 75% of those reports as serious. The effects reported most often — leaving out reports about overdose, misuse or the condition being treated, which dominate the raw list for common medicines:

  • pregnancy with implant contraceptive700 reports
  • unintended pregnancy698 reports
  • complication associated with device376 reports
  • incorrect product administration duration240 reports
  • uterine haemorrhage233 reports
  • vaginal haemorrhage223 reports
  • complication of device removal211 reports
  • device expulsion199 reports

Read these as a signal, not a rate. A report does not mean etonogestrel caused the effect — anyone can file one, and many describe people taking several medicines for several conditions. Crucially there is no denominator: FAERS does not record how many people took the drug, so these counts cannot be turned into “X% of patients” — a bigger number often just means a more widely used or more talked-about drug. Duplicates exist, and publicity drives reporting. For what is actually established, read the FDA label section above.

Source: openFDA drug/event (FAERS), retrieved August 25, 2026.

Related calculators

Frequently asked questions

What is etonogestrel?

NEXPLANON is a radiopaque, progestin-only, soft, flexible implant preloaded in a sterile, disposable applicator for subdermal use. The implant is white/off-white, non-biodegradable and 4 cm in length with a diameter of 2 mm (see Figure 19 ). Each implant consists of an ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer (28% vinyl acetate, 43 mg) core, containing 68 mg of the synthetic progestin etonogestrel, barium sulfate (15 mg), radiopaque ingredient), and magnesium stearate (0.1 mg), surrounded by an EVA copolymer skin. Once inserted subdermally, the release rate is 60-75 mcg/day in week 5-6 and decreases to approximately 40-50 mcg/day at the end of the first year, and then to approximately 15-20 mcg/day at the end of the fifth year. NEXPLANON is a progestin-only contraceptive and does not contain estrogen. NEXPLANON is not made with natural rubber latex. Figure 19 (Not to scale) Etonogestrel [13-Ethyl-17-hydroxy-11-methylene-18,19-dinor-17α-pregn-4-en-20-yn-3-one], structurally derived from 19-nortestosterone, is the synthetic biologically active metabolite of the synthetic progestin desogestrel.

Can you take etonogestrel with other medicines?

It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run etonogestrel against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.

What brand names is etonogestrel sold under?

We track 2 etonogestrel-containing products in the U.S.: Implanon and Nexplanon. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.

What forms does etonogestrel come in?

Across the brands we track, etonogestrel is currently marketed as implant, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.

Is there a generic etonogestrel?

We do not currently list a generic-labelled etonogestrel product. That does not always mean none exists — it means none appears under a generic name in the FDA data we track. Ask your pharmacist.

Cite this page
APA
pharmaranks. (2026, July 24). Etonogestrel: uses, dosing, side effects & brands. https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/etonogestrel
MLA
“Etonogestrel: uses, dosing, side effects & brands.” pharmaranks, 24 July 2026, https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/etonogestrel.

We summarise public FDA and NIH sources — for a clinical claim, cite the primary source we link to as well.

Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.

Read the full FDA label for etonogestrel on DailyMed (NIH) ↗ — including its boxed warning in full.