According to medical experts, the Pill, if used properly, has a success rate of about 99 percent. However, more than 8 percent of women in their first year on the Pill become pregnant. Doctors say that many failures are simply due to missed doses, but that drug interactions can also lower the Pill’s success rate. These experts recommend that if you are taking the Pill—especially if it is a low dose formulation— you consult your gynecologist before taking certain drugs including the following:
1) Adrenocorticoids— this is a cortisone-like medicine which is commonly used to treat an assortment of ailments.
2) Antibiotic and antibacterial drugs— these include ampicillin, bacampicillin, chloramphenicol, neomycin, penicillin, tetracycline, rifampin, and sulfa drugs.
3) Anticonvulsants— including carmazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone, and valproic acid.
5) Cholesterol-lowering drugs.
6) Headache remedies— including prescription drugs.
7) Mineral oil
Sedatives and tranquilizers— including barbiturates, chlordiazepoxide (Librium) and diazepam (Valium).
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