{"id":31254,"date":"2021-05-20T09:30:46","date_gmt":"2021-05-20T13:30:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=31254"},"modified":"2024-11-18T18:31:58","modified_gmt":"2024-11-18T23:31:58","slug":"medications-that-interfere-with-birth-control","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/medications-that-interfere-with-birth-control\/","title":{"rendered":"11 medications that interfere with birth control"},"content":{"rendered":"

Birth control failure is much more serious than a Tylenol that hasn\u2019t quite cured your headache. If your hormonal contraception doesn\u2019t work, then you\u2019re at higher risk of an unplanned\u00a0 pregnancy. So, it\u2019s important to be aware of any medications that may interfere with the effectiveness of hormonal birth control pills.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Before you take any new medication, consult with your healthcare provider or pharmacist about drug interactions to see if the medication could interfere with your <\/span>birth control pills<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: See our best drug prices<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

11 m<\/span>edications that interfere with birth control<\/span><\/h2>\n

The following details what can interfere with birth control pills and their effectiveness.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Antibiotics<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

There are a variety of antibiotics, and they\u2019re prescribed for a number of reasons. While many antibiotics don\u2019t interfere with birth control pills, some do. If you are taking oral contraceptives containing ethinyl estradiol, many antibiotics may decrease its effectiveness.<\/span> And research shows that the antibiotic <\/span>rifampin<\/span><\/a> is known to interfere with birth control pill effectiveness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAntibiotics, especially rifampin, are thought to affect the absorption of birth control pills because they alter the environment of the stomach,\u201d says <\/span>Kristi C. Torres<\/span><\/a>, Pharm.D., a member of <\/span>SingleCare\u2019s Medical Review Board<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

But since you could get pregnant if the antibiotic does interfere, you are safest using backup birth control options (such as a barrier method) or <\/span>emergency contraception<\/span><\/a> (if needed) when taking antibiotics and birth control.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Anti-HIV drugs<\/span><\/h3>\n

Research<\/span><\/a> shows that some antiretrovirals that are used to treat HIV can make your birth control less effective. <\/span>Sustiva (<\/span>efavirenz)<\/span><\/a>, as an example, was shown to compromise effectiveness. Other medications, including Atripla, Symfi, and Symfi Lo, also contain efavirenz as an ingredient and can affect the efficacy of birth control pills. <\/span>Check with your healthcare provider before taking an anti-HIV treatment alongside birth control pills.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Antifungal medications<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Certain oral or intravenous antifungal medications could cause your birth control pills to be less effective. <\/span>Gris-peg (griseofulvin)<\/span><\/a>\u2014used to treat jock itch, ringworm, or athlete\u2019s foot\u2014particularly can <\/span>interact with oral contraceptives<\/span><\/a>. Women should use another form of birth control for up to one month after the last dose of griseofulvin.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Antifungal ointments, creams, and powders that you apply to the skin do not interfere with oral contraception.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAntifungals such as <\/span>fluconazole<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>itraconazole<\/span><\/a> inhibit the enzyme that is partially responsible for the metabolism of birth control pills,\u201d Dr. Torres says. \u201cThis could potentially lead to increased plasma concentrations of estrogen. This could result in nausea and breast tenderness. Short courses of antifungals may not present a clinically significant problem, but longer courses may present more of a concern.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re picking up a prescription for an ailment like a yeast infection, or the infections mentioned above, check with the pharmacist first to make sure it won\u2019t affect the birth control you use.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Anticonvulsants<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Medications that treat seizures, or ones that are used by individuals who have <\/span>epilepsy<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>have been known<\/span><\/a> to interfere with birth control pills. \u201c<\/span>Topamax<\/span><\/a>, or generic topiramate, commonly used for both migraine prophylaxis and seizures, may also render your birth control less effective,\u201d Dr. Torres says. Other anticonvulsants that can affect birth control include Tegretol (carbamazepine), Dilantin (phenytoin), phenobarbital, Trileptal (oxcarbazepine), and Lamictal (lamotrigine), among others. Check with your healthcare provider for medical advice if you take an anticonvulsant and birth control.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. General anesthesia\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

If you are having any procedure done that requires <\/span>anesthesia<\/span><\/a>, it is important to let the surgeon know that you take birth control pills, since it may interfere with the effectiveness.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSugammadex is used to reverse neuromuscular blockages involved with surgical procedures,\u201d <\/span>says<\/span> Taylor Graber<\/span><\/a>, MD, a resident anesthesiologist at University of California San Diego and owner of <\/span>ASAP IVs<\/span>. \u201cOne of the side effects of this medication is that it binds to and temporarily inhibits birth control medications.\u201d Women will need to use a non-hormonal backup form of birth control for seven days after receiving sugammadex.<\/span><\/p>\n

6. Anti-nausea medications<\/span><\/h3>\n

Research<\/span><\/a> shows that <\/span>Emend (aprepitant)<\/span><\/a>, a medication that blocks the chemicals that cause nausea, can interfere with birth control effectiveness. Women will need to use a non-hormonal backup form of birth control while taking Emend, and for one month after taking Emend.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s also important to note: If you vomit after taking your regular dose of birth control, it may not have been fully absorbed. Treat it like a missed dose and use a backup contraceptive until you\u2019re fully protected again.<\/span><\/p>\n

7. Pulmonary hypertension medication\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Tracleer (bosentan)<\/span><\/a> is a medication used to treat people who have high blood pressure of the lungs. This medication may <\/span>interfere with birth control effectiveness<\/span><\/a> by decreasing the hormone levels in the blood. It also carries the risk of severe birth defects, so it\u2019s recommended that any woman taking it use two methods of birth control. Women can consult their healthcare provider for guidance when choosing two effective methods of birth control.<\/span><\/p>\n

8. Diabetes medications\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Research<\/span><\/a> has shown that <\/span>Actos (pioglitazone),<\/span><\/a> or combination drugs that contain pioglitazone,\u00a0 a diabetes medication, may decrease \u200bbirth control pill effectiveness. Talk to your endocrinologist or OB-GYN to find out if there are alternative treatment methods. Women who do take pioglitazone along with birth control pills will need to use a non-hormonal backup form of birth control while taking pioglitazone, and for one month after taking pioglitazone.<\/span><\/p>\n

9. Herbal supplements and vitamins<\/span><\/h3>\n

There are several types of supplements that could interfere with birth control.<\/span><\/p>\n