Lo-Zumandimine is a generic version of Yaz. Both contain the exact same active hormones at the exact same doses: 3 mg of drospirenone and 0.02 mg of ethinyl estradiol per active tablet. The FDA has rated Lo-Zumandimine as therapeutically equivalent to Yaz, meaning it is expected to work the same way in your body.
Same Hormones, Same Dosing Schedule
A pack of Lo-Zumandimine contains 28 tablets arranged in the same sequence as Yaz: 24 active hormone pills followed by 4 inert (placebo) pills. The active tablets are light pink and contain 3 mg of drospirenone and 0.02 mg of ethinyl estradiol. The four green tablets at the end contain no hormones and serve as reminders to keep you on schedule during your period week.
Yaz uses the identical 24/4 format, which is slightly different from the more common 21/7 layout found in many other birth control pills. The shorter hormone-free window is one reason Yaz was specifically approved for treating premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), since it keeps hormone levels more stable across the cycle.
What “AB-Rated” Actually Means
The FDA maintains a database called the Orange Book that assigns equivalence ratings to generic drugs. Both Lo-Zumandimine and Yaz carry an “AB” rating under the same listing for drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol 3 mg/0.02 mg tablets. An AB rating means the generic has met the FDA’s standards for bioequivalence, so the drug enters your bloodstream at the same rate and to the same extent as the brand-name version. Your pharmacist can substitute one for the other without contacting your prescriber.
Where They Differ
The differences are cosmetic rather than clinical. Yaz is made by Bayer Healthcare, while Lo-Zumandimine is manufactured by Aurobindo Pharma Limited in India and distributed through their U.S. office in New Jersey. The tablets may look slightly different in color, shape, or coating, and the inactive ingredients (fillers, binders, dyes) can vary between brands. For most people this makes no practical difference, but if you have a known sensitivity to a specific dye or filler, comparing the inactive ingredient lists on each product’s packaging can be worthwhile.
Price is the other major difference. Generic versions of Yaz, including Lo-Zumandimine, typically cost significantly less, which is the main reason pharmacies dispense them.
FDA-Approved Uses
Yaz holds FDA approval for three uses: preventing pregnancy, treating symptoms of PMDD in people who want oral contraception, and treating moderate acne in people 14 and older who have started menstruating. Because Lo-Zumandimine is therapeutically equivalent, it can be prescribed for the same purposes. The drospirenone in both products has anti-androgenic properties, meaning it counteracts the hormones that drive oil production and breakouts, which is why this particular formulation works for acne when many other birth control pills are not specifically approved for it.
Blood Clot Risk
Drospirenone, the progestin in both Lo-Zumandimine and Yaz, carries a somewhat higher risk of blood clots compared to older progestins like levonorgestrel. A large U.S. study of over 400,000 women found that new users of drospirenone had roughly 1.8 times the blood clot risk of women taking second-generation pills. In absolute terms, that translates to about 10 to 15 clots per 10,000 women per year for drospirenone users, compared to about 8 per 10,000 for levonorgestrel users and 2 per 10,000 for women not on hormonal birth control.
This risk applies equally to Yaz and Lo-Zumandimine because the active drug is identical. The risk is highest in the first year of use and in people with other clot risk factors like smoking, obesity, or a family history of blood clots.
Switching Between the Two
If your pharmacy switches you from Yaz to Lo-Zumandimine (or the other way around), you can continue your pack without interruption. Take the new brand’s active pill on the same day you would have taken the old one. Because the hormones and schedule are identical, there is no gap in protection and no need to use backup contraception during the switch.