which drugs decrease efficacy of oral contraceptives (OCs)

September 2005

New evidence is bringing up questions about which drugs decrease efficacy of oral contraceptives (OCs).

Many antiepileptics increase OC metabolism.

Lamotrigine was thought to be safe from this, but there are new reports of breakthrough bleeding and unexpected pregnancies.

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Table of Contents

marketing wars over the new sleeping pills
Women's Health Ortho Evra contraceptive patch and reports of deaths due to blood clots
Women's Health which drugs decrease efficacy of oral contraceptives (OCs)
Infectious Diseases CDC just released new guidelines for the 2005-2006 flu season
Diabetes two new investigational drugs for diabetes
a new inhaled corticosteroid called Asmanex
appropriate use of long-acting inhaled beta-agonists for asthma
alternatives to pseudoephedrine
Cholesterol There's confusion about all the different formulations of fenofibrate
Supplements how ginkgo interacts with other drugs
Supplements A new study is raising the question of whether echinacea is useful for the common cold
Dermatology iPledge, an even stricter risk management program for isotretinoin (Accutane, etc)
Pediatrics whether autism is caused by thimerosal in vaccines
Patient Privacy/HIPAA what HIPAA allows when discussing drug therapy
Practice higher risk of hypertension in women taking chronic NSAIDs or acetaminophen