Yaz generic availability, cost, and dosage

In this article:

• Generic vs. brand-name Yaz
• Generic Yaz cost
• Is Yaz covered by insurance?
• How to get coverage
• Alternatives
• Expert takeaway

In this article

• Generic vs. brand-name Yaz
• Generic Yaz cost
• Is Yaz covered by insurance?
• How to get coverage
• Alternatives
• Expert takeaway

Yaz is a brand-name combination oral contraceptive birth control pill. It is also FDA-approved to treat symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and moderate acne. As is the case with this method of birth control (oral contraceptive), Yaz does not prevent sexually transmitted diseases.

Like most brand-name medications, Yaz can be expensive. Fortunately, generic Yaz is available and sold as drospirenone-ethinyl estradiol. There are also branded generics that include the same ingredients as Yaz, including Loryna and Nikki.

What are the differences between generic and brand-name Yaz?

Brand-name and generic versions of Yaz are much more similar than different. Given that they contain the same active ingredients, ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone, they also share:

• Common side effects: Mood changes, breast pain, thickening cervical mucus, breast tenderness, breakthrough bleeding
• Serious side effects or risks: Increased risk of severe headaches, heart attack, thromboembolism, blood clots, high blood pressure (hypertension), and hyperkalemia
• Contraindications: Breastfeeding, hormone-sensitive breast cancer, coronary artery disease, 
• Drug interactions: Lamotrigine, rifampin, carbamazepine, ketoconazole, itraconazole, potassium-sparing diuretics, and supplements such as St. John’s wort

These brand-name and generic contraceptive pills are considered clinically interchangeable because they are equally safe and effective. That said, there are a few differences:

• Manufacturer. Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals makes Yaz. In 2010, Teva Pharmaceuticals was the first company to announce an authorized generic Yaz called Gianvi. Since then, several companies have launched generic versions.
• Inactive ingredients. According to the FDA, generic drugs can have different inactive ingredients (colors, flavorings, binders) than their brand-name counterparts.
• Appearance. Brand-name and generic Yaz come in packaging that appears different. The tablets themselves may differ in shape, size, or color, depending on the manufacturer.
• Cost. As is typical of generic versus brand-name drugs, Yaz is more expensive than drospirenone-ethinyl estradiol.

Bottom line: “All [Yaz and its generics] provide the same level of effectiveness for pregnancy prevention and symptom control,” says Chandhana Paka, MD, a quadruple board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist, gynecologic surgeon, and lifestyle medicine physician in New York, New York.

How much does generic Yaz cost?

Without insurance, brand-name Yaz costs $226 versus generic $126 for one 1 package (28 tablets), 3-0.02mg disp pack. With a SingleCare prescription discount card, you can save on either one, as well as on branded generic versions such as Loryna.

Is Yaz covered by insurance?

“Insurance coverage for brand-name Yaz is unlikely, since plans typically favor generics to meet Affordable Care Act requirements for $0-copay contraception,” Dr. Paka says. “Exceptions generally require documentation of treatment failure or intolerance to generics.”

Yaz coverage depends on your individual policy’s drug formulary, a list of medications covered by the health insurance plan. Drugs are typically divided into tiers, with most low-cost generics categorized as Tier 1 and high-cost brand-name drugs or specialized drugs categorized as Tier 5.

In the United States, all commercial health insurance plans must cover female birth control. This helps ensure that most people can afford some form of contraception. However, that doesn’t mean all plans cover a brand-name birth control pill like Yaz. In general, generic versions are more likely to be covered — or covered in a greater percentage — than brand-name drugs.

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How do you get Yaz covered by insurance?

“Getting insurance to cover brand-name Yaz when generics are available is difficult but not impossible,” says Heather Gosnell, MD, a board-certified pediatrician and founder of Eat Plants MD Coach in Phoenix, Arizona. She says most insurance plans use a “step-therapy approach” that requires patients to try the generic version before the company will cover the brand-name version. “However, if a patient has a true medical need for brand-name Yaz, such as an intolerance to specific filler ingredients or a documented side effect on the generic formulation, a doctor can submit a prior authorization with medical justification.”

If your insurance plan denied coverage of Yaz, another option is to switch to a health insurance policy that does cover Yaz during the next Open Enrollment Period. You could also switch to generic Yaz, which is more likely to be covered by insurance.

Generic alternatives to Yaz

Yaz contains both estrogen and progestin, which classifies it as a combination oral contraceptive. However, it’s not the only oral contraceptive available. There are dozens of brand-name and generic birth control pills on the market. Dr. Gosnell recommends the generic version to her own patients because it offers the same benefits at a significantly lower price. “Some people have a stigma toward generic versions of medications, but they are strictly regulated by the FDA to ensure they are bioequivalent,” she adds.

Below, find generic alternatives to Yaz for contraception, premenstrual syndrome symptoms, or acne.

As a contraceptive method 

Here are some common generic alternatives to Yaz for birth control:

• Loryna (drospirenone-ethinyl estradiol)
• Nikki (drospirenone-ethinyl estradiol)
• Syeda (brand name: Yasmin)
• Estradiol valerate (brand name: Delestrogen)
• Tri-Lo-Marzia (brand name: Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo)

These hormonal contraceptives work by stopping ovulation, which prevents pregnancy. Regardless of brand name, most come in blister packs of 28 daily pills (the average menstrual cycle). A new pack is started on the first day of your menstrual period, or on the first Sunday after your period starts, if you prefer a Sunday start. It’s important to use a backup contraceptive in the first seven days. Use condoms with male partners for every sexual encounter when infection status or monogamy is uncertain, and to further reduce the risk of pregnancy. 

For premenstrual syndrome (PMS or PMMD)

Of course, Yaz is sometimes taken to treat symptoms of PMMD or moderate hormonal acne in adolescents and young women. Alternatives to Yaz for PMMD may include other hormone therapies or antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

For acne

Prescription generic alternatives to Yaz as an acne treatment may include:

• Tri-Lo-Marzia (brand name: Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo)
• Spironolactone
• Isotretinoin (brand name: Accutane)

Bottom line: There are many combination birth control pills available, but only a healthcare provider who knows your health condition and history, as well as other medications, can help decide the best birth control pill for you. If you are already taking brand-name Yaz and are interested in switching to the generic form or to a different oral contraceptive pill, ask your prescriber for medical advice about how to safely quit Yaz before starting a new form of birth control. 

Expert takeaway

“Yaz is a well-liked combination oral contraceptive pill. It contains drospirenone, which has a mild diuretic effect that may result in a 2–5 pound weight loss and can help lessen lower-extremity swelling and bloating”, shares Leslie Greenberg, MD, faculty physician at University of Nevada Reno Family Medicine Residency Program. “For teen females with acne, Yaz is a good option to help clear up acne as well as provide contraceptive benefits.”