NMM asked
Hi there I'm on yaz it's my 6th day Am I allowed to drink coffee Does it affect my birth control ?? Am I allowed to consume one glass of red wine if I'm on the pill? Does it reduce its effectiveness?
Answer
Yaz is a combined hormone birth control pill that contains two hormones, ethinyl stradiol and drospirenone. There is a minor interaction between all birth control pills, which includes Yaz, and both coffee and alcohol.
The concern is that birth control pills can decrease the metabolism and clearance of alcohol and caffeine (which is contained in coffee). This could theoretically increase the risk of side effects of both alcohol and caffeine. The interactions however, aren't thought to be clinically significant for most individuals.
How Birth Control Pills Affect Caffeine
Several studies have reported that the estrogen contained in birth control pills can impair the elimination of caffeine in the body. One study, published in The Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine, showed the the half-life of caffeine (i.e. time it takes our bodies to metabolize 50% of the drug) was significantly prolonged in woman who were taking birth control pills versus ones that were not.
Another study, published in the European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, had similar results, that the clearance of caffeine was significantly inhibited in those taking birth control pills, most likely due to metabolizing enzyme inhibition.
While there most certainly is an interaction between birth control pills and caffeine, the interaction isn't thought to be clinically significant for most individuals. Most people will not have to alter their normal consumption of caffeine containing products unless they begin to experience adverse effects.
How Birth Control Pills Affect Alcohol
Similar to the interaction between birth control pills and caffeine, the estrogen in the pills has been reported to decrease the clearance of alcohol (specifically ethanol) from our bodies.
A study published in Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research showed woman who were taking estrogen containing birth control pills had a significant decrease in ethanol clearance. The authors concluded:
"The decreased rate of ethanol metabolism in women taking oral contraceptives [seen in this study] is consistent with reports of other drugs having decreased metabolic rates in women taking birth control pills.Like the interaction with caffeine, this isn't thought to be of clinical concern for most patients. Nevertheless, it is important to be aware that you may be at an increased risk for alcohol associated side effects when you take birth control pills.
