Loestrin Fe Drug Interactions

Before using Loestrin Fe, talk to your healthcare provider about any other medications you are taking. If certain medicines (such as antibiotics, barbiturates, or some seizure medications) are taken with Loestrin Fe, drug interactions may occur that could alter the amount of the medications in your blood. Some of these interactions may decrease the effectiveness of Loestrin Fe, possibly increasing your risk of pregnancy.

An Introduction to Loestrin Fe Drug Interactions

Loestrin® Fe (norethindrone/ethinyl estradiol) can potentially interact with several other medicines. These interactions can be severe enough to cause accidental pregnancy, and a backup method of birth control may be recommended in many cases. If you are taking any medication that interacts with Loestrin Fe and increases the risk of pregnancy, check with your healthcare provider about how long to use a backup method of birth control (it may be longer than you would guess).
 
(Loestrin Fe is equivalent to Junel Fe™ and Microgestin® Fe birth control pills. The information in this article also applies to both of these medications.)
 
Some of the medicines that may lead to Loestrin Fe 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®)
  • 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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