activella

How long does Estradiol and Norethindrone Acetate stay in your body?

The elimination half-life of estradiol and norethindrone acetate is about 8 hours — the time it takes the body to clear about half of it. As a rule of thumb, a medicine is mostly gone after roughly 4 to 5 half-lives, though this varies from person to person with age and kidney or liver function. This is the terminal (elimination) half-life, not a distribution phase: the label states "the mean terminal elimination half-life of norethindrone following single dose administration ... is approximately 8 hours," and its single-dose PK table gives t½ = 7.7 ± 0.5 hours (12 healthy women, 0.35 mg, fasting). Norethindrone itself is the active drug, and the label names no active metabolite that outlasts it — it is extensively reduced and then sulfate/glucuronide conjugated, with less than 5% excreted unchanged. Related point for anyone reading a different label: norethindrone ACETATE is a prodrug that is rapidly converted to norethindrone, so norethindrone is the active moiety in those products too. This label does not characterize how the half-life changes in older adults or in kidney or liver impairment — no such pharmacokinetic data is given, so no number can be quoted for those groups (the label does contraindicate use in women with significant liver disease, but that is a safety statement, not a half-life adjustment).

This is general information, not medical advice. It doesn’t tell you when a drug test would read negative (tests detect substances for different, often longer, windows) or when it’s safe to take another dose — ask your pharmacist or prescriber. Source: CAMILA (norethindrone) 0.35 mg tablets — DailyMed label, Clinical Pharmacology / Pharmacokinetics.

Frequently asked questions

How is Activella rated?

pharmaranks gives Activella a composite score of 3.5 out of 5, currently based on 1 weighted source (FDA regulatory recall-safety data weighted highest). See our methodology at /how-we-rate.

How much does Activella cost?

Nobody can tell you what you will pay — your price is set by your insurer's formulary, your deductible and the pharmacy's markup, and none of those are published. What IS published is what the pharmacy paid to acquire it: about $6.64 per gm, per the CMS NADAC survey. Treat that as the floor, not the quote — ask the pharmacist for the cash price as well as your copay, because for cheap generics the cash price often wins.

Is there a coupon or discount for Activella?

pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Activella. To pay less, ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether a generic equivalent exists, check the manufacturer's copay/savings card and patient-assistance program, and compare a pharmacy discount card against your insurance copay. Prices vary by pharmacy, insurance, and location, so always confirm at the counter. This is general reference, not medical or financial advice.

Who makes Activella?

Activella is marketed by Novo Nordisk Inc. You can see Novo Nordisk Inc's full profile, rating, and other products on pharmaranks.

Is Activella a brand-name or generic drug?

Activella is a brand-name product with the active ingredient Estradiol and Norethindrone Acetate.

Is Activella available over the counter?

No. Activella is a prescription (Rx) medication in the US — you need a prescription from a licensed clinician (in person or via telehealth); it isn't sold over the counter. For some conditions there are OTC alternatives — ask your pharmacist.

What forms does Activella come in?

Activella is currently marketed as tablet, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory.

Is Activella FDA-registered?

Activella is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number NDA021103. You can verify this on its official FDA label.

Has Activella been recalled by the FDA?

Activella has no FDA recalls recorded under its own application in the openFDA enforcement database. Its recall-safety score reflects its manufacturer's overall recall record. This is general reference, not medical advice — check the FDA recall database for the latest alerts.

Is Activella safe?

There's no single safe-or-not verdict. pharmaranks gives Activella a recall-safety score of 70/100, based on its FDA recall history (no recalls under its own FDA application) — not an efficacy or side-effect rating. Review its FDA-label side effects and warnings before use, and always consult a licensed professional.