Reviewed by Usama Ali, MPharm (GPhC: 2224726). April 2026.
Cerelle and Cerazette are the same contraceptive medicine in the ways that matter to patients. Both contain desogestrel 75 micrograms, both follow the same 12 hour late pill rule, and both work in the same way to prevent pregnancy. The main differences are the manufacturer, the box, and a few inactive ingredients.
If you have been switched from Cerazette to Cerelle, the first thing to know is that your pharmacy has not switched you to a different type of pill. You are still taking desogestrel 75 micrograms.
Usually, it comes down to cost and stock. Under the NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service, pharmacies are expected to use professional discretion and, where practicable, supply the best value product that still meets the person's clinical need.
Because Cerelle and Cerazette both contain the same active ingredient at the same strength, many pharmacies will supply whichever desogestrel 75 microgram product is the most appropriate and cost effective at the time.
| Feature | Cerelle | Cerazette | What this means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient | Desogestrel 75 micrograms | Desogestrel 75 micrograms | Same medicine |
| Dose | One tablet daily | One tablet daily | Same daily use |
| Late pill rule | 12 hours | 12 hours | Same missed pill advice |
| Main manufacturer | Gedeon Richter | Organon | Different company |
| Lactose per tablet | 52.34 mg | About 55 mg | Very small difference |
| Starch | Potato starch | Maize starch | Relevant only if sensitive |
| Tablet coat | Different inactive ingredients | Different inactive ingredients | No contraceptive effect |
Yes, in the ways that matter for contraception, they are the same. Both products contain desogestrel 75 micrograms. Both are mini pills. Both are taken once a day with no break. Both use the same 12 hour window before a pill counts as late.
Cerelle uses potato starch in the tablet core, while Cerazette uses maize starch. Cerelle lists 52.34 mg of lactose per tablet, while Cerazette lists approximately 55 mg. The tablet coat ingredients also differ. These changes do not alter the intended contraceptive effect.
Usually, no. Because the active ingredient and dose are the same, you would not expect a meaningful change in side effects purely because the box changed from Cerazette to Cerelle.
You can ask, but there is not usually a clinical reason to insist on Cerazette rather than Cerelle. If there is a documented clinical reason to use a particular brand, a clinician can prescribe by brand name.
The current PCS POP PGD Appendix B includes Cerazette, Cerelle, unbranded desogestrel, Desomono, Desorex, Lovima, and Zelleta. They are all desogestrel 75 microgram products.
Yes. Slynd contains drospirenone 4 mg. Norgeston contains levonorgestrel 30 micrograms. Noriday contains norethisterone 350 micrograms. These are genuinely different medicines.
Cerelle and Cerazette are clinically equivalent desogestrel 75 microgram mini pills. If you have been switched from one to the other, the contraceptive effect has not changed.