Birth Control and Antidepressants

Do antidepressants affect birth control? Can I take Lexapro and birth control at the same time? Here's what to know about the interactions between birth control and antidepressants.

Do antidepressants affect birth control?

Generally speaking, antidepressants will not interact with the effectiveness of your birth control. That is to say, if you’re taking Prozac and birth control, you won’t get pregnant.

Can birth control make your antidepressants ineffective?

The combination of birth control and antidepressants could potentially cause changes to your mood. Antidepressants can affect your hormone levels, and hormonal birth control is comprised of synthetic hormones, so there may be some interaction between birth control and antidepressants. If you feel like your mood has changed significantly since taking this combination of medicine, it may be time to chat with your doctor about alternative options.

That being said, if you’re on birth control and being prescribed an anticonvulsant or mood stabilizer to treat your depression, you may run the risk of an interaction. These medications—such as felbamate, lamotrigine, phenobarbital, and primidone—can interfere with the effectiveness of your birth control. If you’re not sure if your medication is an anticonvulsant or mood stabilizer, call your doctor.

Note: there are other types of medications that can interfere with your birth control. You can read more about them here.

Takeaway: Talk honestly to your doctor about birth control and antidepressants

At SimpleHealth, we ask you to share your medical history and take it into consideration when selecting a birth control method for you. It’s important that you’re always honest about other medications and supplements you’re taking when you’re being evaluated for a new drug to avoid the risk of interaction, and birth control and antidepressants are no different. Your doctor just wants to make sure you're safe!

If you're looking to skip the hassle of pharmacy visits, get birth control online through SimpleHealth. We make it easy with automatic refills and free home delivery. Try it out and see what all the buzz is about.