Comprehensive medication guide to Altavera 28 Day including estimated pricing, availability information, side effects, and how to find it in stock at your local pharmacy.
Estimated Insurance Pricing
$0 with ACA-compliant insurance (most private plans must cover FDA-approved contraceptives at no cost-share); $0–$5 with Medicaid; commercial copays vary by plan tier.
Estimated Cash Pricing
$49–$72 retail for a 28-day pack; as low as $4.46 with SingleCare or $23.59 with GoodRx coupons at participating pharmacies.
Medfinder Findability Score
80/100
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Altavera 28 Day is a combination oral contraceptive (COC) containing two synthetic hormones: levonorgestrel (0.15 mg), a progestin, and ethinyl estradiol (0.03 mg), an estrogen. It is manufactured by Xiromed, LLC (distributed in the U.S.) and produced by Laboratorios Leon Farma S.A. in Spain. Altavera is a generic equivalent of the discontinued brand Nordette and has been FDA-approved for the prevention of pregnancy in females of reproductive potential.
Each Altavera 28-day dispenser contains 21 active peach tablets (with hormones) and 7 white inert placebo tablets (without hormones). The pack is taken in strict order over a 28-day cycle — 21 days of active hormones followed by 7 days of placebo, during which withdrawal bleeding typically occurs.
Other generics containing the same 0.15 mg / 0.03 mg formulation include Levora, Kurvelo, Portia, Marlissa, and Chateal — making them potential pharmacist substitutes when Altavera is temporarily out of stock.
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Altavera prevents pregnancy through three complementary mechanisms. The primary mechanism is suppression of ovulation: the continuous presence of levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol provides negative feedback to the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, preventing the mid-cycle LH surge that triggers egg release. Without ovulation, fertilization cannot occur.
The second mechanism is thickening of cervical mucus. The progestin component causes cervical secretions to become significantly thicker and less permeable, creating a physical barrier that inhibits sperm penetration and transport. The third mechanism is alteration of the endometrial lining — Altavera's hormones keep the uterine lining thin and less receptive to implantation, providing an additional layer of protection even if ovulation or fertilization were to occur.
Altavera must be taken at the same time every day for maximum effectiveness. With perfect use, the failure rate is approximately 0.1–0.3% per year. With typical use, it is about 1–5% per year. Consistency is the most important factor in contraceptive efficacy.
0.15 mg / 0.03 mg (30 mcg) — tablet
21 active peach tablets (levonorgestrel 0.15 mg + ethinyl estradiol 0.03 mg) + 7 white inert placebo tablets; taken once daily in order per the blister pack
Altavera 28 Day is generally available at most major U.S. pharmacy chains, but localized stockouts are common. As of 2026, Altavera is not on the FDA Drug Shortages Database or ASHP shortage list. However, its international supply chain (manufactured in Spain, distributed in the U.S.) introduces lead-time variability, and generic market economics mean pharmacy buffer stocks can be lean.
If Altavera is out of stock at your pharmacy, therapeutic equivalents like Levora, Kurvelo, or Portia contain the exact same active ingredients and can often be substituted without a new prescription. Mail-order pharmacies and telehealth platforms often maintain more consistent stock of oral contraceptives than retail locations.
Use medfinder to locate pharmacies near you that have Altavera 28 Day in stock. medfinder calls pharmacies on your behalf and texts you the results — no hold music, no repeated calls.
Altavera 28 Day is not a controlled substance, so it can be prescribed by any licensed prescriber with authority to prescribe non-controlled medications. No DEA registration or special authorization is required beyond a standard prescribing license.
OB/GYN (Obstetricians-Gynecologists) — most common prescribers for birth control
Primary care physicians (family medicine, internal medicine)
Nurse practitioners (NPs) — full prescribing authority in most U.S. states
Physician assistants (PAs) — prescribing under collaborative agreement
Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs)
Pharmacists — in many states, pharmacists can prescribe hormonal contraceptives directly under standing order protocols
Telehealth is widely available for Altavera prescriptions. Platforms including Nurx, The Pill Club, Wisp, and Planned Parenthood Direct can prescribe Altavera (or an equivalent generic) via a brief online health history review — no in-person visit required. Most ship 3-month supplies directly to your door.
No. Altavera 28 Day is not a controlled substance and has no DEA scheduling. It requires a prescription, but there are no DEA-imposed restrictions on refill frequency, quantity limits, or early refills associated with being a controlled substance. Patients can receive 90-day supplies and can refill without the strict restrictions that apply to Schedule II–V medications.
In many states, pharmacists are authorized to prescribe hormonal contraceptives directly under standing order protocols, meaning a patient can sometimes obtain a prescription directly from their pharmacist without seeing a physician or nurse practitioner first. Check with your state pharmacy board or local pharmacist to see if this option is available in your state.
Most side effects occur during the first 1–3 months of use and resolve as the body adjusts to the hormones:
Nausea or stomach upset (taking with food or at bedtime helps)
Breakthrough bleeding or spotting between periods
Breast tenderness or mild swelling
Headaches (mild)
Bloating or fluid retention
Mood changes (mood swings, depression, decreased libido)
Weight changes (often water retention)
Blood clots (DVT/PE): leg pain/swelling, sudden shortness of breath, chest pain
Stroke: sudden facial drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty, severe headache
Heart attack: chest pain, sweating, nausea, left arm pain
Severe abdominal pain or jaundice (yellow skin/eyes) — may indicate liver problems
New onset migraines with visual aura — contact prescriber immediately
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Levora
Identical formulation (LNG 0.15 mg / EE 0.03 mg); most commonly stocked AB-rated equivalent; pharmacist can usually substitute without a new Rx
Kurvelo
Same active ingredients as Altavera from a different manufacturer (Lupin); therapeutically equivalent; widely available at major chains
Sprintec (norgestimate/ethinyl estradiol)
Different progestin (norgestimate); most widely stocked COC generic in the U.S.; requires new prescription when switching from LNG-based pills
Yaz / Syeda (drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol)
Anti-androgenic progestin; also FDA-approved for acne and PMDD; different risk profile (slightly higher VTE risk); requires new prescription
Prefer Altavera 28 Day? We can find it.
Rifampin / Rifabutin
majorStrong CYP3A4 inducers; significantly reduce contraceptive hormone levels; use non-hormonal backup contraception during and for 28 days after use
Carbamazepine, Phenobarbital, Phenytoin, Topiramate
majorAnticonvulsants that induce CYP3A4 metabolism; may reduce Altavera effectiveness; discuss alternative contraception with prescriber
St. John's Wort
majorHerbal CYP3A4 inducer; may substantially reduce ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel levels; avoid or use backup contraception
Fezolinetant (Veozah)
majorContraindicated: ethinyl estradiol inhibits CYP1A2 causing dramatically elevated fezolinetant levels; do not use together
Fluconazole, Itraconazole, Ketoconazole
moderateCYP3A4 inhibitors that may increase ethinyl estradiol systemic exposure; dose adjustment may be warranted
Atorvastatin / Rosuvastatin
moderateCo-administration may increase ethinyl estradiol exposure by approximately 20–25%; monitor for increased side effects
Protease Inhibitors (Ritonavir, Nelfinavir)
moderateMay unpredictably increase or decrease hormone levels; use additional barrier contraception
Altavera 28 Day is a reliable, well-studied combination oral contraceptive with a long track record of safety and effectiveness. As a generic of the discontinued Nordette, it offers the same 0.15 mg levonorgestrel / 0.03 mg ethinyl estradiol formulation at a significantly lower cost — and in many cases at $0 under ACA-compliant health insurance. Multiple equivalent generics (Levora, Kurvelo, Portia) provide additional access options when Altavera itself is temporarily unavailable.
The most important factors for effectiveness are taking it consistently at the same time every day and starting a new pack immediately after finishing the previous one. If your pharmacy runs out, don't skip doses — use backup contraception and seek an equivalent generic or an alternate pharmacy as soon as possible.
If you're struggling to find Altavera in stock at your pharmacy, medfinder can help. medfinder calls pharmacies near you to check which ones have your medication available and texts you the results — saving you hours of phone calls and letting you focus on staying on track with your birth control.
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