effect of drug interactions on the efficacy of oral contraception

ABSTRACT

More than 50 million women all over the world take the birth control pill for family planning or other reasons. We have recently noticed through our work in the hospital of the University of Jordan that there is increased demand for the pill by Jordanian working women, as birth control by artificial hormones is considered one of the easiest, safest and most competitive methods. As we are keen that the pill is used in the correct scientific way, because side-effects and drug interactions are numerous, we are of the opinion that such medicine should be prescribed by a specialist doctor or a doctor having experience in this field. Therefore, we have prepared this summary of the interactions of other drugs with the birth control pill so that the general practitioner and all those working in the field of family planning may benefit from it. We have also recently noticed much interference of drugs such as antibiotics and epilepsy drugs with the birth control pill. This means that if a woman is taking the pill and at the same time one of the above drugs, the action of the pill may be lessened and result in pregnancy or symptoms of menstruation which necessitate reconsideration of the medical prescription by the doctor