Which medicines can influence the operating pill action?

Do you use a hormonal contraceptive? Certain medicines can reduce its effectiveness and increase the risk of unplanned pregnancy. Antibiotics, anti -epileptics, gaviscon, activated charcoal – which medicines can interact with your contraceptive pill? For which other substances do you have to pay attention?

Also read: Up to what age use contraception?

Possible interactions between medicines and the contraceptive pill

Some medicines can reduce the functioning of your contraceptive pill. Here you can read how:

1. Enzyme-inducing medicines: Certain medicines can increase the activity of the liver enzymes responsible for metabolizing contraception hormones. The hormones are therefore broken down faster, which reduces their concentration in the body and their efficacy. Without these hormones you run the risk of getting pregnant.
2. Medicines that influence the absorption of pilhormones: Some medicines influence the absorption of oral contraceptives (the pill and the morning after pill). This allows medicines that can cause serious watery diarrhea (laxatives, orlistat) or vomiting (chemotherapy, colchicine, morphine, etc.). Some medicines also change the intestinal microbiota, and the bacteria in the intestinal mucosa play an important role in the absorption of synthetic hormones.

Regardless of the interaction mechanism between the medicine and the contraceptive pill, a risk of pregnancy cannot be excluded. Taking extra measures to protect yourself is essential.

Which contraceptives are it about?

Absorption problems are associated with the use of the contraceptive pill and the morning after pill. But enzyme -inducing medicines also influence other hormonal contraceptives, plasters, vaginal rings and implants. However, the risk varies depending on the composition of the contraceptive and the medicine in question.

The contraceptive effectiveness of the copper spiral (copper spiral) and the Levonorgestrel spiral (hormonal spiral), as well as those of contraception injections, is not influenced by interactions between medicines. Ask your doctor for advice.

Antibiotics and the contraceptive pill

The antibiotics rifampicine and rifabutinwhich are mainly used for the treatment of tuberculosis, are powerful enzyme inductors that can reduce the efficacy of hormonal contraceptives.

Other antibiotics have no interaction with the contraceptive pill. However, their side effects can affect hormone intake. Many antibiotics, including amoxicillin and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, can disrupt your microbiota and influence the hormone intake. In addition, 10% of patients suffer from treatment -associated diarrhea (TAD). If antibiotic therapy broke or serious diarrhea causes within 3 hours of taking the pill and/or longer than 24 hours, the effectiveness of the contraceptive is not guaranteed.

Also read: Which medicines should you not combine?

Anti-epileptics and the contraceptive pill

Medicines used to prevent and stop epileptic seizures can reduce the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives by increasing their metabolism. It is therefore enzyme inductors that accelerate the breakdown of the hormones in certain contraceptives.

This includes the following medicines

• Carbamazepine: also used with fibromyalgia, rustelozebenen syndrome, bipolar disorders, schizophrenia, certain neuralgia, etc.
• Fenytoin: also used for behavioral disorders and neuropathic pain.
• Topiramate: also used for the treatment of neuropathic pain (face dish) and migraine.
• phenobarbital
• primidone

Check with your doctor whether your anti-epileptic treatment is compatible with your contraceptive method.

Antiretroviral agents and the contraceptive pill

Some HIV treatments, such as Efavirenz, Etravirine and Nevirapine, can have an interaction with hormonal contraceptives and reduce its effectiveness.

Antacida and the contraceptive pill

Antacida or stomach acid inhibitors (Gaviscon, etc.) that are used to treat reflux can reduce the absorption of many medicines. It is advisable not to take them within 2 hours before or after taking another medicine, because this can reduce its efficacy. These recommendations also apply to the contraceptive pill.

Herbs and the contraceptive pill

• Saint John's wort: This plant, which is often used to treat light depression or sleep disorders, is an enzyme inductor that can reduce the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives. An investigation showed that women who at the same time used contraceptive pills and St. John's wort had more interim bleeding and an increased breakdown of estrogens in their bodies.
• Activated charcoal (vegetable charcoal): activated charcoal, often used for intestinal problems, can influence the absorption of the contraceptive pill.

Garlic tablets, alfalfa and linseed are also not without risk. However, experts do not know how most nutritional supplements interact with hormonal contraceptives.

Also read: Can you combine medicines and nutritional supplements?

How to prevent pregnancy if the pill has an interaction with a medicine?

Extra protection if you use risky medicines