How do oral contraceptives interact with other prescribed or over-the-counter medications and what measures should users take to avoid adverse interactions?
Gaurav ChauhanContributor
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How do oral contraceptives interact with other prescribed or over-the-counter medications and what measures should users take to avoid adverse interactions?
Oral contraceptives can interact with certain antibiotics, anticonvulsants, and herbal supplements like St. John’s Wort, potentially decreasing their effectiveness. Users should consult their healthcare provider about potential interactions and may need to use additional contraception.
Antibiotics like rifampin and certain antiepileptics can reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills by increasing their metabolism. Patients should discuss alternative contraceptives with their doctor during treatment.
Oral contraceptives can interact with antibiotics, anticonvulsants, and herbal supplements like St. John’s Wort, which may reduce their effectiveness. To avoid adverse interactions, patients should inform their healthcare provider about all medications they are taking.