Certain types of medications, such as antibiotics and anticonvulsants, can reduce the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives, especially oral contraceptives.
Taking birth control is protection against pregnancy, but is there a risk that the medicine won’t work? Like any medicine, the hormonal contraceptives they depend on metabolic reactions to function e may be interfered with by other active pharmaceutical ingredients or substances.
Antibiotics, anticonvulsants, and antiretrovirals are examples of drug classes that can decrease the level of protection against egg fertilization, especially when the contraceptive is oral. Experts recommend that women pay attention to the bullets and use additional methods of protectionlike a condom.
Why do some medications affect the effectiveness of birth control?
Second Agatha Biscaglia, clinical pharmacist of the Santa Casa de Porto Alegre, when a woman takes two drugs at the same time and one of them – or both – requires a great deal of effort on the part of the liver to be metabolized, the the organ is overloaded and must give priority to one of them. Consequently, the other remedy is less absorbed and therefore less effective.
For those taking oral contraceptives there are still two aggravating factors: some drugs can alter the gastrointestinal flora or react with the contraceptive capsule, causing an accelerated metabolization of the pill. Then the contraceptive it is not absorbed optimallywarns Agatha.
According to her, this interaction of the hormones in contraceptives with other substances can decrease or increase the concentration of contraceptive hormones in the person’s body. When decreased, the the risk of getting pregnant is higher. However, when upgraded, the chances of negative side effectssuch as thromboembolism.
“Most modern contraceptives have a reduced amount of these hormones compared to the previous ones in an attempt to reduce side effects,” says the specialist. “With that, they still have 99 percent protection against pregnancy, but if the person uses another drug, because they have a lower hormone dosage, they’re more susceptible to experiencing a decrease in effectiveness.”
Which birth control methods are most likely to lose effectiveness?
According to the gynecologist of the Hospital e Maternidade Santa Joana Karina Belickas Carreiro, the hormonal contraceptive methods at risk of pharmacological interference are:
- birth control pills;
- injections;
- stickers;
You intrauterine devices (IUDs) come out unscathed – even hormonal ones –as well as the condom and the diaphragm, which function as physical barrier methods.
“Unlike other hormonal contraceptive methods, which work throughout the body to block ovulation and thus prevent pregnancy, the hormonal IUD does not work by blocking ovulation (It works by preventing the passage of sperm.) and has a local effect, so it doesn’t depend on the liver to function,” he says.
Remedies that are points of attention
According to the two experts, the drugs with increased propulsion to reduce the effect of contraceptives hormonal I am:
- antibiotics (especially amoxicillin, erythromycin, penicillin and tetracycline);
- anticonvulsants (especially carbamazepine, phenytoin and phenobarbital);
- antiretrovirals (particularly ritonavir and efavirenz);
- antifungals (especially ketoconazole, miconazole and clotrimazole);
- St. John’s wort herbal medicinesalso known as St. John’s Wort or St. John’s Wort;
- Corticosteroid-based anti-inflammatories (especially prednisolone).
Among the most common drugs that, according to research, do not interfere with the effect of the contraceptive I am:
- analgesics;
- Non-corticoid anti-inflammatory drugs;
- Non-corticoid antiallergics;
- Thyroid control medications;
- Antidepressants (except those of the anticonvulsant class).
Other factors causing interference
In addition to drug interactions, vomiting, diarrhea and gastrointestinal and liver problems they also compromise the absorption of contraceptive substances, especially oral ones.
“If the person has liver disease, they will have impaired metabolism of the hormonal contraceptive (except the IUD). Or, if they have diarrhea or vomiting, an oral contraceptive is impaired, as it may not have stayed in the gastrointestinal tract long enough to absorb,” says the doctor.
OR incorrect use of contraceptives – such as when the patient forgets to take the pill at the right time – also causes interference, as the concentration of conceptual substances in the person’s blood temporarily decreases.
In addition, it can interfere with the effectiveness of the contraceptive:
- Excessive consumption of alcoholic beveragesboth to overload the liver and to cause vomiting and diarrhea;
- Consumption of chemical illicit drugs in large quantities, such as ecstasy (MDMA) and LSD, as they also overload the liver.
With an eye on the bottle
Despite the risks, specialists say that the use of the drugs and substances mentioned above will not necessarily interfere with the contraceptive effect. “It has a minimal level of absorption needed for the contraceptive to work, and some drug companies already consider possible interactions when formulating their products,” says Karina.
According to the doctor, ideally, choosing a contraceptive method, the person tell your gynecologist all the medicines you use regularly so that the professional can help choose the best method on a case-by-case basis. Later, when he takes a new drug, he should check the birth control leaflet to see whether or not there is a risk of loss of efficacy.
In connection with vomiting and diarrhea, care should be taken tolerance time indicated on the leaflet. Pharmaceutical products usually specify the minimum period the pill must remain in the gastrointestinal tract to be absorbed. Therefore, if there is vomiting or diarrhea before this minimum time, it is a sign that efficacy may be interfered with.
The instructions on How to proceed when you forget to take the contraceptive at the right time they are also in the manual.
The effect may have been compromised. And now?
In case of suspected loss of effectiveness of the hormonal contraceptive, the gynecologist recommends continuing to use the method regularly, as well as other drugs. To ensure greater protection against pregnancy, the condom should be used during sexual intercourse until, on average, one month after the end of simultaneous substance use. Another option is get an IUD as soon as possible.
As a last resort, you can resort to morning after pill. However, Karina points out that this is an emergency method, that it shouldn’t be used more than twice a year and that it is not as effective as physical barrier methods, as it also depends on metabolic factors.
In all cases, experts emphasize that no contraceptive method is 100% effective and that the best way to prevent pregnancy is to combine two methods. Furthermore, only the condom protects from sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
