Drug Interactions With Ocella

A number of medications could cause drug interactions with Ocella, potentially decreasing the birth control pill's effectiveness. Some of these drugs may include antibiotics, barbiturates, modafinil, and certain seizure medications. Other medicines, such as ACE inhibitors or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, may cause drug interactions that could increase the risk of high potassium levels in your blood.

An Introduction to Drug Interactions With Ocella

Ocella™ (drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol) can potentially interact with several other medicines. It is different from most other birth control pills and has several interactions that other birth control pills do not. Some of the medicines that may lead to Ocella interactions include:
 
  • ACE inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), including:
 
 
 
    • Amobarbital (Amytal®)
    • Butalbital (Fioricet®, Fiorinal®)
    • Pentobarbital (Nembutal®)
    • Phenobarbital (Luminal®)
    • Secobarbital (Seconal®)
 
  • Certain seizure medications, such as:
 
 
  • Cyclosporine (Gengraf®, Neoral®, Sandimmune®)
  • Heparin
  • Modafinil (Provigil®)
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as:
 
 
  • Potassium containing products, such as:
 
    • Potassium chloride (K-Dur®, Klor-Con®, Micro-K®)
    • Potassium citrate (Urocit-K®, Polycitra-K®)
    • Potassium gluconate
    • Potassium phosphate (Neutra-Phos-K®, K-Phos®)
    • Salt substitutes (used to flavor food)
 
  • Potassium-sparing diuretics, such as:
 
 
  • Protease inhibitors, 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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