Concurrent Use of Oral Contraceptives With Antidepressants

Oral contraceptives, commonly known as birth-control pills, are the most popular method of birth control in the United States. Although there are many different brands, oral contraceptives generally contain one or more synthetic hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. Proper use of oral contraceptives stop ovulation and thereby prevent pregnancy. Because of the prevalence of antidepressant medications many women are concerned about the concurrent use of antidepressants with oral contraceptives.

Effects

Unlike oral contraceptives, which are similar in nature, antidepressants come in a wide variety of formulations. Each comes with specific information regarding other types of medications that may cause adverse reactions if taken together. Always tell your physician about all medications and natural supplements you are taking including oral contraceptives, prior to taking any antidepressant medication.

Features

According to the University of California, Berkley's University Health Services, there is no evidence to suggest that antidepressant medications will impair the effectiveness of oral contraceptives. However, some antidepressants can be harmful to an unborn child, so it is important to practice effective birth control as long as you are taking antidepressant medication.

Considerations

There is some evidence that the hormones in oral contraceptives may actually help alleviate symptoms of depression and severe PMS. However, some women may have the opposite reaction and find that oral contraceptives may contribute to adverse mood swings. If this is the case, your physician may recommend an alternate form of birth control for a few months to ascertain whether the type of oral contraceptive you had been using might be the culprit.

Causal link

There is much anecdotal evidence and some studies to suggest a causal link between symptoms of depression and oral contraceptives. In the 1960s, according to an article at Aphrodite Women's Health, information provided in the packaging of the original oral contraceptive, Enovid, stated that "an occasional woman receiving Enovid may experience psychic depression, although the relationship of Enovid administration to such a response is by no means clear." According to the article, warnings included with the current oral contraceptive, Demulen, state, "Women with a history of depression should be carefully observed and the drug discontinued if the depression recurs to a serious degree."

Age

Although oral contraceptives can be taken by menstruating women of any age, most antidepressant medications are only recommended for adults over 18. Antidepressants taken by younger children may result in suicidal thoughts, self- harm and attempted suicide.

References

• Family Doctor: Depression in Women
• University Health Services: Will the Medication Interfere with My Birth Control Pills?
• Aphrodite Women's Health: Is The Pill Playing Havoc With Your Mental Health?

Resources

• Birth-Control Pills: A Guide for Teens

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