Medications that can affect birth control pills

When prescribing medicine, the doctor often asks if you are taking any other drugs? Some medicines will not work as well if taken together. Similarly, if you want hormonal birth control to be highly effective, you need to avoid those that make birth control pills ineffective.

Oral pills and some other forms of birth control such as the patch, ring or injection - often contain the female sex hormones estrogen and progestin. This active ingredient prevents the ovaries from ovulating, so you won't get pregnant. But there are some drugs that interact with birth control pills, meaning that they prevent these hormones from working. Using these drugs at the same time as birth control increases the chance of an unwanted pregnancy.

In most cases, you don't have to worry about taking these drugs. Doctors often prescribe antibiotics for women to treat all types of infections caused by bacteria - the most common being pneumonia, acne, and urinary tract infections (UTIs). Common antibiotics include penicillin and amoxicillin.
To date, the only antibiotic capable of interfering with birth control is rifampin (Rifadin), a drug used to treat tuberculosis. Rifampin causes irregular periods, increasing the chance of an unwanted pregnancy even if you've taken your birth control pill exactly as directed.
Besides rifampin, you can safely take birth control pills at the same time as other antibiotics and don't need to use backup birth control.

Some HIV medications can interact with birth control pills, interfering with birth control. Medicines that make birth control pills less effective include:
Darunavir (Prezista) Efavirenz (Sustiva) Lopinavir / ritonavir (Kaletra) Nevirapine (Viramune) Other HIV medicines may not affect them. It's best to talk to your doctor to find out which medication is best for you.

The two main active ingredients to watch out for in antifungals are:
Griseofulvin (Gris-PEG): Griseofulvin is used to treat skin infections such as tinea pedis and itchiness. Ketoconazole (Extina, Nizoral, Xolegel): Ketoconazole is mainly used when other antifungal medicines are not available or do not work. However, scientists believe that the risk of antifungal drugs affecting birth control pills is quite low, so consult your doctor directly about your case.

Some medications reduce the effectiveness of birth control by increasing the breakdown of hormones in the Pill, making birth control less effective. These medications include:
Carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Epitol, Equetro, Tegretol) Felbamate (Felbatol) Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal) Phenobarbital (Luminal) Phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek) Primidone (Mysoline) Topiramate (Topamax form) Guaranteed Use other birth control (such as an IUD, diaphragm, or condom) if you take anti-seizure medications. It should be noted that oral contraceptives will not affect the effectiveness of antiepileptic drugs.

This is a stimulant commonly used to treat symptoms of sleep disorders such as narcolepsy and sleep apnea. Studies have shown that the pill reduces the effectiveness of oral contraceptives. So, if you want to prevent pregnancy, use another form of birth control while you are using modafinil (Provigil) and for up to a month after you stop taking modafinil (Provigil).

There are some herbs that interact with birth control pills that you should avoid. For example, St. John's Wort is used to treat mild to moderate depression and sleep disorders. But one study found that women who took birth control pills and St. John's wort at the same time had a higher rate of sudden bleeding and an increased breakdown of estrogen in the body. These signs indicate that birth control pills may not have worked as intended.
Other herbal remedies that can affect the effectiveness of birth control pills include:
Saw Palmetto: Some people use it to limit hair loss. Alfalfa/Clover (Alfalfa): Used for kidney, bladder, and prostate problems. Garlic extract: Some people take this medication to treat high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and other heart and blood conditions. Flaxseed: This substance is used for digestive problems such as severe constipation and irritable bowel syndrome. In addition to the drug interactions leading to contraceptive failure as listed, there are also drugs that make birth control pills ineffective such as: antihypertensive drugs, anticoagulants, antipyretics, analgesics, drugs. diabetes treatment, antiviral drugs, laxatives... However, more scientific research is needed before making final conclusions.
In short, when taking hormonal contraceptives, you need to be careful with those that make birth control pills ineffective. Do not self-medicate without consulting your doctor. In case of force majeure, when both contraception and medical treatment are required, your doctor may suggest that you use another birth control method (condom, spermicide, etc.) to increase the effectiveness of contraception. pregnant.

Reference source: webmd.com