Microgynon 30/Microgynon 30 ED Drug Interactions

Interactions can occur with drugs that induce microsomal enzymes (especially cytochrome P450 3A4) which can result in increased clearance of sex hormones and which may lead to breakthrough bleeding and/or contraceptive failure.
Women on short term treatment with any of these medicinal products should temporarily use a barrier method or another method of contraception. The barrier method must be used throughout the entire period whilst these medicines are being used and for up to 28 days after discontinuation of treatment. If the period during which the barrier method is used runs beyond the end of the tablets in the COC pack, tablet-taking from the next COC blister should be commenced immediately without the usual tablet-free interval.
In women on long-term treatment with enzyme inducers, another reliable, non-hormonal, method of contraception is recommended.
Tell the doctor or pharmacist if the patient is taking any other medicines, including any that the patient gets without a prescription from the pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines and Microgynon 30/Microgynon 30 ED may interfere with each other. These include: medicines used to treat tuberculosis such as rifampicin, rifabutin; a class of antibiotics known as macrolides, such as clarithromycin, erythromycin; medicines used to treat fungal infections, such as ketoconazole and griseofulvin; medicines used to treat HIV, such as ritonavir or nevirapine; some medicines used to treat HCV, such as boceprevir, telaprevir, ombitasvir, paritaprevir, dasabuvir; medicines used to treat epilepsy such as phenytoin, primidone, barbiturates (e.g. phenobarbitone), carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, topiramate, felbamate, lamotrigine; cyclosporin, an immunosuppressant medicine; etoricoxib, a medicine used to treat painful joint disease; melatonin, a hormone used as a sleep aid; midazolam, a medicine used as a sedative; theophylline, a medicine used to treat respiratory disease; tizanidine, a medicine used as a muscle relaxant; some medicines used to treat high blood pressure, chest pain or irregular heartbeats such as diltiazem, verapamil; herbal medicines containing St John's Wort; grapefruit juice.
These medicines may be affected by Microgynon 30/Microgynon 30 ED, or may affect how well it works. The doctor may need to alter the dose of the medicine, or prescribe a different medicine.
The patient may need to use additional barrier methods of contraception (such as condoms or a diaphragm) while taking any of these medicines with Microgynon 30/Microgynon 30 ED and for some time after stopping them.
The doctor will be able to tell how long the patient will need to use additional contraceptive methods.
The doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines that the patient needs to be careful with or avoid while taking this medicine.