Syeda is a generic version of Yasmin. Both contain the same two hormones in the same doses: 3 mg of drospirenone (a progestin) and 0.03 mg of ethinyl estradiol (an estrogen). The FDA has rated Syeda as therapeutically equivalent to Yasmin, meaning it is expected to work the same way with the same safety profile.
Same Active Ingredients, Same Doses
Yasmin was the original brand-name pill, manufactured by Bayer Healthcare. Syeda came later as a generic, marketed by Xiromed and manufactured by Laboratorios Leon Farma in Spain. Despite different names and manufacturers, both pills deliver identical amounts of the same two hormones. The 3 mg drospirenone works as the progestin component to prevent ovulation and thicken cervical mucus, while the 0.03 mg ethinyl estradiol is a synthetic estrogen that stabilizes the uterine lining and helps regulate your cycle.
Both come in the standard 28-day pack format, with active hormone tablets and placebo tablets for the final days of each cycle.
What the FDA’s “AB” Rating Means
The FDA maintains a database called the Orange Book that rates how generic drugs compare to their brand-name counterparts. Syeda carries an “AB” therapeutic equivalence rating relative to Yasmin, which is the highest confidence rating for a generic. This means the FDA reviewed evidence showing that Syeda is absorbed into the bloodstream at the same rate and to the same extent as Yasmin. In practical terms, your body processes both pills the same way, and they prevent pregnancy equally well.
Where They Differ: Inactive Ingredients
The one real difference between Syeda and Yasmin is in the inactive ingredients, the fillers and coatings that hold the tablet together and give it its shape and color. Syeda’s inactive ingredients include corn starch, lactose, magnesium stearate, titanium dioxide, talc, polysorbate 80, and yellow iron oxide (which gives the active tablets their color), among others.
Yasmin uses a slightly different set of fillers. For most people this makes zero difference. But if you have a known allergy or sensitivity to a specific inactive ingredient, such as lactose, it’s worth checking the ingredient list for whichever version you’re prescribed. Rarely, some people notice minor differences in how they tolerate a brand versus a generic, and inactive ingredients are typically the reason.
Shared Risks With Drospirenone Pills
Because Syeda and Yasmin contain the same active hormones, they carry the same risk profile. Drospirenone-containing pills as a class have been associated with a higher risk of blood clots compared to pills that use older types of progestin. This applies equally to Yasmin, Syeda, and other drospirenone generics like Ocella and Zarah. The risk is still small in absolute terms, but it’s something to be aware of, particularly if you smoke, are over 35, or have a personal or family history of clotting disorders.
Common side effects are also the same for both: nausea, breast tenderness, headaches, mood changes, and breakthrough bleeding, especially in the first few months. One feature of drospirenone is that it has mild diuretic properties, meaning it can reduce water retention. This is why some people on Yasmin or Syeda notice less bloating compared to other birth control pills.
Cost Differences
The main practical reason Syeda exists is price. Brand-name Yasmin is significantly more expensive than its generics. Most birth control pills range from $10 to $50 per month without full insurance coverage, and generics like Syeda consistently land on the lower end of that range. Under the Affordable Care Act, most insurance plans cover birth control at no cost, though some plans only cover specific options, and plans with religious exemptions may not cover contraception at all.
If your insurance covers Yasmin, you may still be switched to Syeda at the pharmacy because many plans and pharmacies automatically substitute the generic unless your prescriber specifically writes “brand name only.” If you’ve been taking one and get switched to the other, the hormonal effect on your body should be identical.