Can I use a morning after pill if I take other medicines?
Most medicines, including most antibiotics, do not interact with the morning after pills and do not reduce their efficacy.
However, these medicines do interact with morning after pills and may reduce their efficacy:
- the herbal medicine St John’s Wort
- some medicines used to treat epilepsy
- some medicines used to treat HIV
- some medicines used to treat tuberculosis (rifampicin and rifabutin)
- medication such as omeprazole and lansoprazole that make your stomach less acidic
Speak to your pharmacist for advice if you take any of these medicines. ellaOne cannot be used if you are already taking one of these medicines, as it may not be effective. Levonelle may still be used, but the dose may need to be increased – your doctor or pharmacist can advise on this.
Related Articles
My vaginal ring fell out. Should I take a morning after pill?
If the ring has been out for less than 3 hours, rinse it with warm water and re-insert it as soon as possible. You are still protected against pregnancy and you do not need to take additional precautions. If the ring has been out for more than 3 ...
I have a medical condition. Can I use a morning after pill?
In almost all cases, yes you can still use a morning after pill. Morning after pills are very safe medicines and they can even be used by women who cannot normally use hormonal contraception for health reasons. There are no medical conditions that ...
How many times can I use a morning after pill?
There is no limit to how many times you can use a morning after pill, even in the same month. There is no evidence of longer term harm to your body from the use of morning after pills. However, if you find yourself using morning after pills ...
Should I take a morning after pill after sex if I am on the contraceptive pill?
When taken regularly, the contraceptive pill is over 98% effective at preventing pregnancy whereas morning after pills are only around 75% effective at preventing pregnancy. This means that when taken regularly, contraceptive pills offer superior ...
Can I use a morning after pill after ovulation?
Morning after pills work by inhibiting ovulation and fertilisation. However, it is very difficult to know exactly when you have ovulated. For this reason, it is recommended to use a morning after pill whenever you have unprotected sex if you do not ...