Hormonal Contraceptives/Cladribine Interactions
This information is generalized and not intended as specific medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional before taking or discontinuing any drug or commencing any course of treatment.
Medical warning:
Serious. These medicines may interact and cause very harmful effects. Contact your healthcare professional (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) for more information.
How the interaction occurs:
Cladribine may lower the effectiveness of your hormonal contraceptive.
What might happen:
Hormonal contraceptives (e.g. "the pill", patches, implants, some IUDs, and the ring) may not be as effective while you are taking cladribine and you may become pregnant if you do not add other forms of birth control.
What you should do about this interaction:
Make sure your healthcare professionals (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) know that you are taking these medicines together. You should add a back-up form of birth control (e.g. condoms) or a non-hormonal form of birth control while taking cladribine and for at least 4 weeks after the final dose of cladribine in each treatment cycle. If you have questions about your birth control, discuss them with your doctor or pharmacist.Emergency contraceptives may be less effective also. You may need a larger dose than normal. Discuss the dose and the need to confirm that you do not become pregnant with a pregnancy test with your healthcare professional.Your healthcare professionals may already be aware of this interaction and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.
- 1.Mavenclad (cladribine) US prescribing information. EMD Serono, Inc. March, 2019..
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CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.