• Birth Control

Do Antibiotics Affect Birth Control?

Millions of women in the U.S. rely on birth control for different reasons. It can prevent pregnancy, help treat hormonal acne, reduce symptoms of endometriosis, and regulate menstrual cycles.  

While on birth control, there will come a point where you will need to take other medications. Most antibiotics do not affect birth control, but other types of medications can make birth control less effective.

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Can You Take Antibiotics While on Birth Control?

It is safe to take most antibiotics while on birth control. Rifamycin antibiotics are the only type of antibiotics known to make birth control less effective.

Rifampin — also referred to as Rifadin — reduces the amount of estrogen in the body that hormonal birth control methods like the pill produce to prevent pregnancy. 

It’s an antimycobacterial — a medication that kills bacteria that can lead to an infection. It is commonly used with other medicines to treat tuberculosis and other serious infections. 

Some healthcare providers warn that doxycycline is another antibiotic that may also reduce the effectiveness of birth control. Doxycycline is a medication used to treat anthrax.

A healthcare provider may recommend using an additional method of birth control while on these medications.

What Medications Interact with Birth Control?

Certain anti-fungal, HIV, and epilepsy medications may interact with hormonal birth control. NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and certain painkillers may increase your risk of blood clots while on birth control. 

Antiretroviral drugs are medications most often used to treat HIV. They may reduce progestin and estrogen levels in hormonal birth control. Copper IUDs and non-hormonal birth control methods may work best with these medications.

Some herbal medications may have enzymes that interact with hormonal birth control. Generally, natural medicines are harmless and will not reduce the effectiveness of birth control. 

The following herbs have the potential to interact with birth control:

• Sene

• Ginseng

• Black cohosh

• Alfafa

• Licorice

Medications that interact with birth control pills

Medications that interact with birth control pills tend to reduce estrogen levels in the body. Hormonal birth control may also reduce the effectiveness of anti-seizure medications.  Some epilepsy medications are not as interactive as others. 

The following anti-seizure medications may make birth control less effective:

• Lamotrigine

• Oxcarbazepine

• Valproic acid 

• Carbamazepine (Tegretol)

• Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal)

• Topiramate (Topamax)

• Felbamate (Felbatol)

• Phenobarbital

• Phenytoin (Dilantin)

• Primidone (Mysoline)

A healthcare provider may adjust your dosage of anti-seizure medications while on birth control. 

Medications that interact with IUDs

There are two different types of IUDs. Hormonal IUDs may interact with medications more than non-hormonal IUDs. Mirena is a popular hormonal IUD that may interact with some medications. There is limited research on the types of medications that Mirena may interact with. 

It’s recommended to exercise caution and check with a healthcare provider if you are taking the following medications:

• Insulin injections

• Anticoagulants

• Migraine medications

Medications that interact with other hormonal birth control methods

Hormones in the vaginal ring and birth control shots may be less effective when used with the following anti-seizure medications:

• Lamotrigine (Lamictal)

• Carbamazepine (Tegretol)

• Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal)

• Topiramate (Topamax)

• Felbamate (Felbatol)

• Phenobarbital

• Phenytoin (Dilantin)

• Primidone (Mysoline)

The birth control patch may be a more effective birth control method for someone taking anti-seizure medications. Anti-seizure medications metabolize in the liver which can negatively affect other hormonal birth control methods. Be sure to let your healthcare provider know if you are taking any other medications before starting birth control.

Which Antibiotics are Safe to Take While on Birth Control?

Most common antibiotics are safe to use while on birth control. It can be hard to know for sure how your body will react to certain medications. While most antibiotics do not tend to interact with birth control, some may slightly alter the effectiveness depending on other factors like other preexisting conditions.

The following medications do not have a significant effect on birth control:

• Ciprofloxacin (Ciproxan): This medication is used to treat bacterial infections, sinus infections, and bronchitis.

• Amoxicillin (Amoxil): A common penicillin antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections like pneumonia, bronchitis, and urinary tract infections.

• Penicillin: One of the most widely used medications to fight harmful bacteria.

• Metronidazole (Metrosa): A medication used to treat STDs (sexually transmitted diseases), gastrointestinal infections, and bacterial vaginosis.

Certain lifestyle factors like smoking tobacco may increase your risk of experiencing side effects while taking certain medications.

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When to See a Healthcare Provider

You do not need to see a healthcare provider before taking an OTC medication while on birth control. For extra caution, be sure to use a secondary form of birth control while taking antibiotics and birth control. 

In some cases, a healthcare provider may recommend alternate forms of birth control while treating certain health conditions like epilepsy or sexually transmitted diseases. Be sure to reach out to a healthcare provider if you experience yeast infections or any other symptoms while taking an antibiotic.

Book an appointment today to learn more about birth control options that may work for you.

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