Ensure contraceptives work with prescribed medication
Scientists believe the risk of anti-fungal medication affecting your birth control pills are low, so check with your doctor.
It’s common to be asked when visiting a doctor, “what vitamins or medication do you take” before he/she prescribes any medication to you. This is because some types of medication do not work with hand in hand with your contraceptive.
This is because the birth control pill contains hormones and if you want it to work right, you need to avoid certain medications.
According to laira.com The pill (and some other types of birth control like the patch, ring, or injections) usually contains the female sex hormones estrogen and progestin. They stop the eggs from leaving the ovaries, so you won’t get pregnant. But some medication won’t let the hormones do their job and if you take it at the same time as your birth control. You may not have the protection you think you do.
Antibiotics
For the most part, you don’t have to worry about taking these drugs. Doctors prescribe them to treat all kinds of infections caused by bacteria, like pneumonia, acne, and urinary tract infections (UTIs). Common antibiotics include penicillin and amoxicillin.
So far, the only antibiotic that studies show interferes with birth control is rifampin (Rifadin), a drug used to treat tuberculosis.
Rifampin causes irregular periods. It raises the risk that you may get pregnant even if you use your birth control the right way.
Apart from rifampin, you’re safe to take birth control pills at the same time as antibiotics without also using a backup method.
Anti-fungal medications
Scientists believe the risk of anti-fungal medication affecting your birth control pills are low, so check with your doctor.
Herbal remedies
A study showed that women who took birth control pills and St. John’s wort at the same time had higher rates of breakthrough bleeding and an increased breakdown of estrogen in their bodies, displaying that the contraceptive did not work as well as they should have.
Other herbal remedies that may affect how well your birth control pills work are:
Saw palmetto – Some people have tried it for hair loss.
Alfalfa – It’s used for kidney, bladder, and prostate problems.
Garlic pills – Some people take these for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and other heart and blood diseases.
Flaxseed – This is used for digestion problems like severe constipation and irritable bowel syndrome.
