A lot of drugs and medications can interact with over-the-counter supplements and even some foods. If you're not planning on starting a family, or expanding your current family, any time soon, it's imperative that you pay close attention to what you take with your birth control pill. Tell your doctor of all medications and supplements that you take, no matter how minor they may be before you begin birth control.
Birth Control
Birth control primarily consists of hormones to prevent an egg from becoming fertilized. The two most commonly used hormones are estrogen and progesterone. These hormones can deplete some of your vitamin levels, such as vitamin C. When you take birth control pills, they are metabolized in your liver, which is where your vitamins metabolize. The hormones found in birth control decrease the productivity of some vitamins.
Vitamins
While your body does need vitamins, taking a vitamin supplement can interfere with your birth control pills, according to Drugs.com. Certain over-the-counter vitamins and supplements can interfere with the way your body absorbs and uses the hormones from your birth control pills, making them ineffective. Not only can over-the-counter vitamins interfere with the effectiveness, they can have the same effect of you not taking your birth pills at all. This can increase the risk of pregnancy. In the same regard, birth control pills can deplete certain vitamin levels, such as vitamin C.
When to Take Them
If your physician approves of the use of an over-the-counter vitamin, make sure there is at least a two-hour period from when you take one until you take the other. The order may not matter, depending upon the type of birth control; ask your doctor which one you should take first, if it matters. Your doctor may even have you take your birth control at the complete opposite time of day that you take your vitamins just to prevent any interactions or other negative outcomes.
Considerations
If you begin to develop a vitamin deficiency, talk to your doctor about ways to correct the deficiency before it becomes too severe. It may be necessary for you to split up your vitamin doses to deliver vitamins to your body throughout the day instead of taking them all at one time. If you are worried that your vitamins may interfere with your birth control, use an alternate backup form of birth control such as spermicidal jellies, condoms or abstinence.
References
- Health Guidance: Vitamin C's Effect on Birth Control
- HelpGuide.org: Dietary Supplements: The Smart and Safe Use of Vitamins and Supplements; Gina Kemp, M.A., Lawrence Robinson, and Jeanne Segal, Ph.D; March 2011
- "Good Housekeeping" Magazine: A Woman's Guide to Reviving Sex Drive; Colette Bouchez
- Drugs.com: Yaz Information; Aug. 2011
- Drugs.com: Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo Medical Facts; Aug. 2011
