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Birth control pills may not work properly when taken at the same time as penicillin. To prevent pregnancy, use additional methods of birth control while taking penicillin, such as latex condoms or spermicide.
Penicillins may interact with many other medicines. When this happens, the effects of one or both of the drugs may change or the risk of side effects may be greater. Anyone who takes penicillin should let the physician know all other medicines he or she is taking. Among the drugs that may interact with penicillins are:
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and other medicines that relieve pain and inflammation
- medicine for overactive thyroid
- male hormones (androgens)
- female hormones (estrogens)
- other antibiotics
- blood thinners
- disulfiram (Antabuse), used to treat alcohol abuse
- antiseizure medicines such as Depakote and Depakene
- blood pressure drugs such as Capoten, Monopril, and Lotensin
The list above does not include every drug that may interact with penicillins. Be sure to check with a physician or pharmacist before combining penicillins with any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicine.
[Article by: Nancy Ross-Flanigan]
— Nancy Ross-Flanigan
