Ortho-Cyclen Drug Interactions

If you take certain medications in combination with Ortho-Cyclen, drug interactions could occur that may increase your risk of pregnancy or other side effects. You may need to use a backup method of contraception. Some of the medications that may cause negative drug interactions with Ortho-Cyclen include selegiline, St. John's wort, barbiturates, and protease inhibitors.

 

An Introduction to Ortho-Cyclen Drug Interactions

Ortho-Cyclen® (norgestimate/ethinyl estradiol) can potentially interact with numerous other medicines. Most women have heard stories about accidental pregnancies occurring due to interactions between birth control pills and antibiotics, but antibiotics are not the only medications that interact with birth control pills. If you are ever unsure about what to do about an Ortho-Cyclen drug interaction, be sure to use backup birth control until you can speak with your healthcare provider. Some of the medicines that may lead to Ortho-Cyclen interactions include:
 

 

    • Amobarbital (Amytal®)
    • Butalbital (Fioricet®, Fiorinal®)
    • Pentobarbital (Nembutal®)
    • Phenobarbital (Luminal®)
    • Secobarbital (Seconal®)

 

  • Cyclosporine (Gengraf®, Neoral®, Sandimmune®)
  • Many seizure medications, such as:

 

 

 

 

(Ortho-Cyclen is equivalent to MonoNessa®, Previfem™, and Sprintec® birth control pills. The information in this article also applies to each of these medications.)
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;