Antibiotics decrease the efficacy of hormonal contraceptives.
January 1
This isn’t true for MOST antibiotics.
You’ll still see interaction alerts for oral contraceptives plus penicillins or tetracyclines...but the data supporting an interaction are poor.
You’ve probably heard the theory that antibiotics lower estrogen levels by killing gut bacteria and interfering with the enterohepatic circulation of estrogen. The trouble is evidence doesn’t support this mechanism...or the presence of drug interactions.
Get concise advice on drug therapy, plus unlimited access to CE
Pharmacist's Letter membership benefits include:
- 12 issues every year — what you need to know and do, right now
- Quick, practical reference charts and tools
- Comprehensive CE library to meet license renewal and state requirements
- Multiple course formats including live webinars, podcasts, and CE-in-the-Letter to match your learning style
- Plus much more!
Choose the right tier for your needs today.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Volume pricing available. Get a quote