Lo/Ovral Drug Interactions

When certain medications are taken in combination with Lo/Ovral, drug interactions may occur that could increase your risk of developing side effects or lead to unintentional pregnancy. Some of these medications include antibiotics, dexamethasone, protease inhibitors, and seizure medicines. You should use backup contraception until you can speak with your healthcare provider if you are unsure about any particular Lo/Ovral drug interaction.

An Introduction to Lo/Ovral Drug Interactions

Lo/Ovral® (norgestrel/ethinyl estradiol) can potentially interact with numerous other medicines. Many of these interactions can be severe enough to lead to unintentional pregnancy, and a backup method of birth control may be recommended in many cases. Although many women are aware that antibiotics can interact with birth control pills, other medications can interact with Lo/Ovral as well. Some of the medicines that may lead to Lo/Ovral drug interactions include:
 
  • Aminoglutethimide (Cytadren®)
  • Antibiotics
  • Aprepitant (Emend®)
  • Barbiturate medications, such as:
 
    • Amobarbital (Amytal®)
    • Butalbital (Fioricet®, Fiorinal®)
    • Pentobarbital (Nembutal®)
    • Phenobarbital (Luminal®)
    • Primidone (Mysoline®)
    • Secobarbital (Seconal®)
 
  • Cyclosporine (Gengraf®, Neoral®, Sandimmune®)
  • Dexamethasone (Decadron®)
  • Modafinil (Provigil®)
  • Numerous seizure medications, such as:
 
 
  • Protease inhibitors, such as:
 
 
(Lo/Ovral is equivalent to Cryselle® and Low-Ogestrel® birth control pills. The information in this article also applies to both of these medications.)
 

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