Loestrin® 24 Fe (norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol tablets, USP and ferrous fumarate tablets) Ferrous fumarate tablets are not USP for dissolution and assay. Rx Only Patients should be counseled that this product does not protect against HIV infection (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted diseases. DESCRIPTION Loestrie 24 Fe provides a dosage regimen consisting of 24 white progestogen-estrogen contraceptive tablets and 4 brown ferrous fumarate (placebo) tablets. Each white tablet contains 1 mg norethindrone acetate and 20 mcg ethinyl estradiol. Each white tablet also contains the following inactive ingredients: acacia, lactose, magnesium stearate, starch, confectioner's sugar, and talc. Each brown tablet contains ferrous fumarate, microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate, povidone, sodium starch glycolate, and compressible sugar. The ferrous fumarate tablets do not serve any therapeutic purpose. The structural formulas for the active hormones are: HO Ethinyl Estradiol [19-Norpregna-1,3,5(10)-trien-20-yne-3,17-diol, (17a)-] 0 II 0 ,..CCH, CH l .0-= CH 0 Norethindrone Acetate [19-Norpregn-4-en-20-yn-3-one, 17-(acetyloxy)-, (17a)-] CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY Combination oral contraceptives act by suppression of gonadotropins. Although the primary mechanism of this action is inhibition of ovulation, other alterations include EFTA00625051