One of the best things about the birth control pill is that you feel like you can take it and forget about it for the rest of the day. While this may be so for many people, some substances could actually make your birth control less effective and cause other complications. You might not be happy with the effects of less effective birth control, which can include pregnancy and hormonal concerns.
Check out these medications to see if they might interfere with your current hormonal contraception.
Antifungal Medications
Some antifungal medications increase enzymes in your body that relate to your blood concentration. This influences the way your body breaks down progestin, a hormone that is frequently used in hormonal birth control pills. If you do not take medication with progestin, you may not have to worry about this.
Seizure Medications
Topamax is a common medication used to prevent seizures for people with certain disorders. This drug, and those like it, can actually impact the way your body breaks down the hormones in the birth control pill. This means your pills are less effective.
Certain Antibiotics
Not every antibiotic play a role in your birth control efficacy. Rifampin is the only antibiotic proven to affect birth control pill efficacy. This pill increases a chemical in your body that breaks down hormones like estrogen. This means that your estrogen levels decrease, which can make your hormonal birth control pill less effective.
St. John's Wort
Many people think over-the-counter supplements do not have any sort of medical interactions because they are not at the pharmacy. The truth is that St. John's Wort can interfere with several types of medications, including birth control.
HIV Medications
Antiretroviral medications, specifically those used to treat HIV, may also interfere with your cycle. If you already use either one of these medications, you may need more information about how it may influence your body. Always speak with your doctor before you add any new supplements to your current routine.
If you realize that you take these medications and hormonal birth control, it is a good idea to discuss other options with your doctor. You may need to consider other forms of protection while taking this medication if you are trying to avoid pregnancy. If you are already taking birth control, ensure that you bring this up to your doctor any time he or she suggests you take a new medication.
