Birth control pills and other medications

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Birth control pills and other medications

Some medicines can interfere with how birth control pills work. For example, you may not be protected from pregnancy while you are taking other medicines that affect liver metabolism. The vaginal ring and skin patch contain combination hormones and may also interact with some medicines. The progestin-only pills, implant (Implanon), and shot (Depo-Provera) also contain hormones that may interact with some medicines.

Taking medicines while you are using hormonal birth control may increase your risk of problems. Some combinations of medicine may affect the birth control hormones in your body, making them too strong or too weak. This may increase your chance of getting pregnant. Or a new medicine may be less likely to work because you have birth control hormones in your body. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure that any medicines you take are not causing problems when you are using hormonal birth control.

Birth control pills may increase your sensitivity to the effects of caffeine.

Credits

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Author	Bets Davis, MFA
Editor	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS
Associate Editor	Michele Cronen
Associate Editor	Denele Ivins
Associate Editor	Pat Truman, MATC
Primary Medical Reviewer	Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology
Last Updated	May 22, 2008

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Last updated:	May 22, 2008
Author:	Bets Davis, MFA
Reviewed By:	Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine, Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology
Editors:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS, Pat Truman, MATC

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