Birth Control Pill Drug Interactions

Numerous medications can cause birth control pill drug interactions, including antibiotics, barbiturates, protease inhibitors, and aminoglutethimide. These medicines could potentially decrease the effectiveness of oral contraceptives, which can increase your risk of unintentional pregnancy. If you are unclear about a specific birth control pill drug interaction, use a backup method of contraception until you can talk to your healthcare provider.

An Introduction to Birth Control Pill Drug Interactions

Birth control pills (oral contraceptives) can potentially interact with numerous other medicines. Many of these interactions can be severe enough to cause unintentional pregnancy. If you are not sure about any particular drug interaction, use a backup method of contraception, such as condoms, until you can check with your healthcare provider. Some of the medications that may lead to birth control pill interactions include:
 
  • Aminoglutethimide (Cytadren®)
  • Antibiotics
  • Aprepitant (Emend®)
  • Barbiturate medications, such as:
 
    • Amobarbital (Amytal®)
    • Butalbital (Fioricet®, Fiorinal®)
    • Pentobarbital (Nembutal®)
    • Phenobarbital (Luminal®)
    • Secobarbital (Seconal®)
 
  • Many seizure medications, such as:
 
 
 
 

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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;
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