Nightingale asked
I'm currently on Zoloft (sertraline) and the birth pill femodette. I take the sertraline at night and the birth pill in the morning but I wondered would it be a problem to take both at night?
Answer
Zoloft (sertraline) may be safely taken with birth control pills as there is no reported or listed interaction between the two.
It is always a good idea to know what medications or supplements could potentially interact with your birth control pills. Anything that could alter body hormone levels should be avoided to decrease the risk of unintended pregnancy.
Some antidepressant medications can alter how the hormones in birth control pills are absorbed or metabolized in our bodies by interfering with liver metabolizing enzymes. Fortunately, there is no evidence that SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) medication, such as Zoloft (sertraline), interacts with birth control pills and therefore they may be safely taken together.
Although there is no interaction between birth control pills and Zoloft (sertraline), there is always the risk of increased adverse reactions when both are combined. These include:
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Diarrhea
- Cramping
As long as you can tolerate taking your birth control pills and Zoloft (sertraline) together, there is no reason you cannot continue to take them at the same time. They can be taken at the same time in either the morning or evening.
