Drug Interactions with Contraceptives

Several drug–drug interactions involve hormonal contraceptives and may impair the efficacy and safety of both contraceptives and co-administered agents. Clinically relevant drug–drug interactions involving hormonal contraceptives are mostly related to their pharmacokinetic features. For example, antiepileptics, antiretrovirals and rifamycins are known to cause clinically relevant drug–drug interactions when co-administered with hormonal contraceptives. This review offers some key points to raise clinician’s awareness of clinical scenarios where drug interactions could be responsible for contraceptive failure and unintended pregnancies.