Comprehensive medication guide to Norgestrel including estimated pricing, availability information, side effects, and how to find it in stock at your local pharmacy.
Estimated Insurance Pricing
Coverage varies; no federal mandate for OTC contraceptive coverage without a prescription. Some CVS Caremark plans cover Opill at $0. With a provider prescription, many insurance plans may cover it under ACA contraceptive mandates. HSA and FSA funds can be used for OTC purchases.
Estimated Cash Pricing
$19.99 for a 28-day supply; $49.99 for a 3-month supply; $89.99 for a 6-month supply (~$15/month). Available OTC at major pharmacies and online — no prescription needed.
Medfinder Findability Score
88/100
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Norgestrel is a synthetic progestin used as a daily oral contraceptive to prevent pregnancy. It is sold under the brand name Opill — the first FDA-approved over-the-counter daily birth control pill in the United States. Norgestrel has been approved for prescription use since 1973, giving it over 50 years of clinical use and an extensive safety record. In July 2023, the FDA approved it for OTC sale, and it became available on pharmacy shelves nationwide in March 2024.
As a progestin-only pill (POP), also called a "mini-pill," norgestrel contains no estrogen. Each Opill tablet contains 0.075 mg of norgestrel. It comes in 28-pill packs (all active pills — no placebo days) and is taken once daily at the same time each day. Norgestrel is available without a prescription, without a doctor's visit, and without age restrictions at major pharmacies, grocery stores, and online retailers including Amazon.
Norgestrel is manufactured by Perrigo (formerly HRA Pharma) and distributed nationally. It is not on the FDA drug shortage list and is widely available as of 2026.
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Norgestrel is an agonist of the progesterone receptor — it mimics the effects of the natural hormone progesterone in your body. It prevents pregnancy through three mechanisms: (1) thickening cervical mucus to block sperm from reaching the egg (primary mechanism); (2) suppressing ovulation in approximately 50% of menstrual cycles by disrupting LH surge signaling; and (3) thinning the endometrial lining to reduce the likelihood of implantation.
Norgestrel is a racemic mixture containing levonorgestrel (the biologically active enantiomer) and dextronorgestrel (inactive). Because only half the mixture is active, norgestrel is exactly half as potent as pure levonorgestrel. It peaks in the bloodstream approximately 2 hours after ingestion and is largely eliminated within 24 hours — which is why consistent daily timing within a 3-hour window is critical to maintain contraceptive effectiveness. Backup contraception is required for the first 48 hours after starting and any time a dose is taken more than 3 hours late.
Unlike combination birth control pills (which contain estrogen and progestin and suppress ovulation in nearly 100% of cycles), norgestrel's primary contraceptive action is cervical mucus thickening. This means strict daily timing adherence is more important for norgestrel than for combination pills. When used with perfect adherence, norgestrel is 98% effective at preventing pregnancy.
0.075 mg — tablet
OTC daily oral contraceptive tablet. One tablet taken at the same time each day, 28 tablets per pack (all active, no placebo).
Norgestrel (Opill) is one of the most widely available contraceptives in the United States. As an over-the-counter product, it requires no prescription and can be purchased directly off the shelf at major pharmacy chains (CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid), big-box retailers (Walmart, Target), grocery store pharmacies (Kroger, Safeway), and online from Opill.com, Amazon, and GoodRx. It is not on the FDA drug shortage list as of 2026.
Some patients encounter local stock variability at individual stores, particularly in rural areas or smaller independent pharmacies that may not routinely stock newer OTC products. In these cases, online ordering from Opill.com or Amazon is the most reliable alternative. Pharmacies can also place special orders for OTC items upon patient request, typically arriving in 1–3 business days.
If you're having trouble finding norgestrel at your local pharmacy, medfinder can call pharmacies near you and text you which ones have it in stock. No hold music, no wasted trips.
Norgestrel (Opill) is available over the counter and does not require a prescription in the United States. However, any licensed prescriber can write a prescription for norgestrel 0.075 mg if needed — for example, to facilitate insurance coverage through ACA contraceptive mandates. Norgestrel is not a controlled substance, so no DEA registration is required to prescribe it.
Healthcare providers who commonly manage norgestrel prescriptions and contraceptive counseling include:
Norgestrel is also available through telehealth platforms. Services such as Nurx, The Pill Club, Wisp, Teladoc, and Plushcare can prescribe norgestrel and often deliver it directly to the patient's home. In some states, pharmacists can prescribe hormonal contraceptives directly under pharmacy prescribing protocols — no appointment needed.
No. Norgestrel is not a controlled substance and is not scheduled by the DEA. As a progestin-only contraceptive hormone, it has no abuse potential and does not appear on any federal controlled substance schedule. This is one reason the FDA was able to approve it for over-the-counter sale — hormonal contraceptives like norgestrel have an established safety profile that makes self-administration without a prescription appropriate for most people.
Because norgestrel is not a controlled substance, there are no special pharmacy dispensing requirements, no prescription refill restrictions, and no DEA registration needed for prescribers. Opill (norgestrel 0.075 mg) can be purchased by anyone of any age without a prescription, ID, or doctor's visit at any pharmacy or retailer that stocks it.
The most common side effects of norgestrel (Opill) are related to menstrual cycle changes. Most are mild and often improve after 2–3 months of consistent use:
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Norethindrone
The most comparable prescription progestin-only pill (0.35 mg). Same 3-hour missed-pill window. Available as generic (Camila, Errin, Heather); typically covered at $0 by insurance under ACA mandates.
Drospirenone (Slynd)
Prescription progestin-only pill with a 24-hour missed-pill window and consistent ovulation suppression. Anti-androgenic benefits. Generic now available at $30-60/month.
Nexplanon
Etonogestrel subdermal implant lasting 3 years. Over 99% effective, no daily adherence required. Progestin-only, estrogen-free. Often $0 with insurance.
Levonorgestrel IUD (Mirena, Liletta)
Hormonal IUD delivering progestin locally. Lasts 5-8 years, over 99% effective, low systemic hormone exposure. Often $0 with insurance.
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Rifampin
majorStrong CYP3A4 inducer. Can significantly reduce norgestrel contraceptive effectiveness. Use alternative or additional contraception.
Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
majorModerate CYP3A4 inducer. May reduce norgestrel levels and contraceptive effectiveness. Use backup contraception.
St. John's Wort
majorHerbal CYP3A4 inducer. Can significantly reduce effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives including norgestrel. Avoid concurrent use.
Ulipristal acetate (Ella)
majorDo not take norgestrel within 5 days of ulipristal. Both drugs act on the progesterone receptor and can reduce each other's effectiveness.
Apalutamide (Erleada)
majorStrong CYP3A4 inducer. Contraceptive failure is possible. Use non-hormonal contraception and continue backup for 28 days after stopping.
Ritonavir/nirmatrelvir (Paxlovid)
moderateStrong CYP3A4 inhibitor. May increase norgestrel blood levels. Monitor for increased side effects such as irregular bleeding.
Phenytoin (Dilantin)
majorCYP3A4 inducer. May reduce progestin levels and contraceptive effectiveness. Discuss with provider.
Norgestrel (Opill) represents a historic step forward in contraceptive access in the United States. For the first time, patients can obtain a daily oral birth control pill without a prescription, without a doctor's appointment, and without age restrictions. Its 50-year safety record, well-understood mechanism of action, and wide retail availability make it an accessible, effective choice for pregnancy prevention.
The key to norgestrel's effectiveness is consistent daily use. Taken at the same time every day within a 3-hour window, it is 98% effective. Missing or delaying doses reduces effectiveness significantly — so setting a daily alarm is strongly recommended. The most common side effect, irregular bleeding, usually improves within 2–3 months. Those with current or past breast cancer should not take norgestrel.
If you ever struggle to locate norgestrel at your local pharmacy, medfinder is here to help — we call pharmacies near you and text you which ones have it in stock, so you can skip the hold music and get what you need faster.
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