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3 types of drugs that can cut the effect of birth control

When the doctor asks if you take any medication, do you usually remember the pill? Because it is something so commonplace in our daily lives, we often fail to see contraceptives as a medicine. However, it is a pharmaceutical drug like any other and, therefore, is subject to interactions.

In addition to forgetting, another factor that can cut the contraceptive effect is the simultaneous use of other medicines. Every drug substance causes changes in our body, and this includes changes in the action of the liver (which metabolizes drugs) and in the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestine (which absorb the drugs).

These changes can end up lessening the effect of the pill, making you more susceptible to pregnancy. Check out three classes of drugs capable of reducing the effectiveness of oral contraceptives and be prepared to use another method along with the pill, such as condoms:

1. Antibiotics and Antimycotics

Used in a simple throat infection to very serious in hospital infections, antibiotics and antimycotics (which act against bacteria and fungi, respectively) can reduce the effect of the pill by up to 50%. Within this class, the “champion” in reducing the effect of contraceptives is rifampicin, which is usually prescribed for tuberculosis, leprosy and meningitis.

This happens because these drugs modify some characteristics of the intestinal walls, mainly permeability. As a result, the hormones in the pill are not absorbed in the same way, increasing the risk of pregnancy.

It is important to note that, even without causing changes in gastrointestinal transit, such as diarrhea, antibiotics can reduce the effect of the pill, and therefore it is necessary to use another contraceptive method, such as condoms.

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In addition to rifampicin, other antibiotics and antimycotics that can cause this problem are ampicillin, amoxicillin, cephalexin, clindamycin, dapsone, erythromycin, phenoxymethylpenicillin, griseofulvin, isoniazid, metronidazole, and tetracycline.

2. Barbiturates and anticonvulsants

Medications used to control or prevent seizures can also decrease the effectiveness of the pill. Among them, the most famous are phenobarbital (Gardenal®, used to prevent seizures) and carbamazepine (Tegretol®, prescribed for epilepsy).

These drug classes also include primidone, topiramate, phenytoin and hydantoin. If you use any of them, you must associate a non-hormonal contraceptive method with the pill.

3. Natural remedies

Natural remedies may seem “lighter” because they are made from plants, but that doesn’t mean they stop being medicines and having interactions with other substances.

Considering the effectiveness of oral contraceptives, care must be taken with St. John’s wort, which is used as a natural antidepressant and can be purchased without a prescription. During the period of use of this medication and for the next seven days, the pill must be used together with the condom to ensure protection against an unwanted pregnancy.

Medications that don’t cut the pill’s effect

Fortunately, not all medications interact with the pill. Check out the list with some common examples of remedies that do not cut the contraceptive effect:

  • Antidepressants: paroxetine, sertraline, escitalopram, citalopram and fluoxetine;
  • Analgesics: aspirin, dipyrone and paracetamol;
  • Anti-inflammatories: ketoprofen and piroxicam;
  • Benzodiazepines: diazepam, clonazepam and alprazolam;
  • Diuretics: furosemide and hydrochlorothiazide;
  • Insulin and oral diabetes medications;
  • Medicines to control cholesterol: simvastatin and atorvastatin.

Although there is no evidence that these drugs reduce the effectiveness of the pill, the use of oral contraceptives should always be reported to the doctor or pharmacist if you are going to start treatment.

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It is also worth remembering that hormonal contraceptives, such as the pill, only protect against an unwanted pregnancy, but have no effect against STDs. Therefore, the simultaneous use of the pill and condom is always safer.

The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only. They do not replace the advice and follow-up of doctors, nutritionists, psychologists, physical education professionals and other specialists.

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