Does Berocca interfere with the contraceptive pill?

November 18, 2010 3:35 AM

Does Berocca interfere with the contraceptive pill?

I have had 2 doctors in the past advise me to only take 1/2 a Berocca because it would reduce the efficacy of the pill. FWIW, I'm on Yasmin, but it didn't sound like they were saying Berocca specifically affected that one.

I can't find any info online about this whatsoever. Any help?

posted by KLF to Health & Fitness (4 answers total)

This is just a guess rather than an actual qualified medical opinion, but it could be that they are concerned because Berocca contains vitamin C. Vitamin C does have interactions with female reproductive hormones. There are people out there on the Internet who claim that vitamin C reduces the efficacy of the pill, but plenty of other people who claim that that's a myth. (Given that vitamin pills are so widely taken and available, I have a hard time believing that this kind of information wouldn't be printed on the Yasmin label insert if it were true and had a substantial impact, but I'm not a doctor...) Of course, it could be something entirely different your doctors are worried about.
posted by phoenixy at 5:54 AM on November 18, 2010

Here's a fairly thorough fact sheet about the relationships (or lack of) between various vitamins and minerals and oral contraceptives.
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 6:18 AM on November 18, 2010

Ask the pharmacist who filled your prescription. It's free, and you'll be getting the opinion of a trained professional.
posted by deadmessenger at 6:53 AM on November 18, 2010

Yup, talk to your pharmacist. Questions like this is what they're there for.
posted by zamboni at 1:04 PM on November 18, 2010