Does taking antibiotics make the pill less effective?

Only one antibiotic is known to make the pill less effective. That is rifampin (brand names include Rifadin and Rimactane), a special medication used to treat tuberculosis. Other antibiotics do not make the pill less effective.

Certain other medicines may make the pill less effective. These include

  • certain anti-HIV protease inhibitors
  • certain anti-seizure medications
  • a particular anti-fungal medication, griseofulvin (Fulvicin, Gris-PEG, Grifulvin V, Grisactin, and Gristatin), which is used to treat severe, often life-threatening fungal infections

It is always wise to know how other medications may interact with the pill. Some medications may be less effective when used with the pill. These include

  • Analgesics (pain medications) — for example, acetaminophen (Pamprin, Tylenol, Parcetamol, aspirin-free Excedrin, and others)
  • Antihypertensives (for high blood pressure) — for example, cyclopenthiazide (Prothiazide)

The effects of some medications may be exaggerated when used with the pill. These include

  • Antidepressants — for example, imipramine (Janimine and Tofranil)
  • Bronchodilators — for example, theophyline (Primatene, Theo-Dur, Marax, Bronkotabs, Quibron Tedra, and others)

Tranquilizers — for example, benzodiazepam (Valium, Ativan, Librium, Serax, Tranxene, Xanax, and others)