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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Mommy to an Angel! on May 19, 2000, at 13:30:49
FYI -- I just heard on NPR that some studies have shown that SSRIs make BC pills less effective. Thank goodness I didn't get pregnant when I was depressed. I'm a happy mommy now, but getting pregnant when I was depressed would have been a disaster.
Posted by NikkiT on May 19, 2000, at 14:39:27
In reply to SSRI and Birth Control, posted by Mommy to an Angel! on May 19, 2000, at 13:30:49
Really??? thats really worrying, as getting pregnant right now would be a total distaster for me.
Anyone know wnymore about this?
Nikki x
> FYI -- I just heard on NPR that some studies have shown that SSRIs make BC pills less effective. Thank goodness I didn't get pregnant when I was depressed. I'm a happy mommy now, but getting pregnant when I was depressed would have been a disaster.
Posted by Cam W. on May 19, 2000, at 20:52:04
In reply to Re: SSRI and Birth Control, posted by NikkiT on May 19, 2000, at 14:39:27
All you ladies of childbearing years -
I have not heard of this before. Clomipramine and birth control pills increased the risk of depressive relapse, but I have not heard of SSRIs decreasing the pill's effectiveness. Nor have I seen or heard of anyone having a "failure" of the pill while taking SSRIs. I also haven't seen these studies (but, then again, I haven't looked for them). This must be a very minor side effect or the incidence must be rare. I cannot think of a biochemical mechanism for this to happen, either. I would think that this would be BIG news if it were commonplace. CNN would be all over it.I hope this will quell some fears. - Cam
Posted by Mommy to an Angel! on May 21, 2000, at 16:26:02
In reply to Re: SSRI and Birth Control - Huh?, posted by Cam W. on May 19, 2000, at 20:52:04
Cam --
I don't want to create needless fear, but I would also hate to see women getting pregnant at the "wrong" time. I heard this report on The People's Pharmacy. The show is on NPR.
I went to their web page to look for a reference. I found one article that talks about St. John's Wort (that's at: http://www.healthcentral.com/drdean/deanfulltexttopics.cfm?ID=32014&storytype=MedicalReports)
But on a different day, they said birth control pills are less effective when taked with all types of SSRIs. I KNOW I heard them say this.
In my personal experance, I took a couple of different SSRIs over a three year period while also taking BC pills and I didn't get pregnant. But... who knows? I think it's better to safe than sorry!
Regards,
Mommy to an Angel
Posted by Cam W. on May 22, 2000, at 11:03:29
In reply to Re: SSRI and Birth Control -- here's one link!, posted by Mommy to an Angel! on May 21, 2000, at 16:26:02
Angel's Mommy - My wife, being a public health nurse (aka baby stabber - 'innoculator') was very interested in your query.I checked your link, as well as the CPS (Canadian PDR), PubMed, Google, Metacrawler, About, and DaveFlockhart's Drug Table.
I used inquiries like 'SSRIs and birth control pills', 'serotonin reuptake inhibitors and estradiol', 'SSRIs and the Pill', 'selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and oral contraceptives' 'antidepressants and birthcontrol pills' and various combinations thereof.The link you gave me had 2 comments. One by Dean Edell (Dr. of T.V. newscasts) and the other by Joe Graedon (The People's Pharmacy). Both said, in an offhand manner, that St.John's Wort decreased the effectiveness of birth control pills. This could be due to a compound in the plant, unrelated to SJW's antidepressant action.
If anything, some SSRIs may potentially increase the effect (and side effects) of BCPs. Ethinylestradiol (EED) is one of the main components of the Pill and it is partialy metabolized by the liver's cytochrome system (CYP-3A3/4). Serzone, Luvox and perhaps Prozac (to a much lesser extent Zoloft) inhibit the production of CYP-3A3/4 enzymes. With less enzyme available, the metabolism of EED may be slowed (It depends on many factors, such as other metabolic pathways of EED, the dose of EED in the particular Pill, the dose of the SSRI, etc.). Slowed EED metabolism may raise EED concentrations in the body, affording greater protection against pregnancy.
(See what my wife makes me do!)
What you heard could have been a mistake by the person who said it. If anyone can find a case report or clinical study of SSRIs causing decreased BCP efficacy, I (actually, me wife) would be greatly appreciative.
Hope this helps - Cam
This is the end of the thread.
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