When taking birth control pills it is imperative that you tell your physician before taking any other form of prescription or over-the-counter medications/supplements. There are medications and supplements that can interfere with how birth control works. These include:
- Antibiotics
- Anti-Seizure Medications
- Migraine Medications
- Anti-Fungal Medications
- Antidepressants
- HIV Medications
- Respiratory Medications
- Diabetic Medications
- Supplements of Any Kind
The supplement category is vague because supplement companies don’t always list all ingredients in the formula or some ingredients may be listed with unfamiliar names. St. John’s Wort is one specific supplement that may affect how your birth control pill works.
Specific drugs that may interfere with birth control include:
- Rifampin
- Tetracycline
- Ampicillin
- Amoxicillin
- Phenobarbital
- Carbamazepine
- Topamax
- Griseofulvin
- Nystatin
- Benzodiazepine
- Prozac
- Celexa
- Zoloft
- Theophylline
- Avandia
This is only a partial list – there may be other medications that interfere with birth control.