Dear Alice,
I have been on the pill for about 5 months now, and aside from the extra headache now and then, everything has been fine. However, my concern is drug interaction with the pill. A friend of mine recently got pregnant while on the pill, and the nurse practitioner at her school told her it was because she was on Zantac, a medication for ulcers, and it reduced the effectiveness of the pill. I am also on Zantac, and have been advised to take it when I need it, but I am afraid after hearing what happened to her. So, my stomach is getting worse. The doctors here said there wasn't a problem with the Zantac and the pill, though. Who do I believe?
--Dyspeptic Disaster
Dear Dyspeptic Disaster,
A reputable doctor at the Health Services here checked two reference books and even checked the older form of ulcer medication, and found no contraindications for birth control pills. Alice also checked for medical contraindications to taking oral contraceptives, and Zantac or any other ulcer medication was not a problem. It seems that your friend might have gotten misinformation. Remember that no form of contraception is 100% effective, even if used completely correctly. And given human error (missed pill, taken at different times of day, etc.) effectiveness is reduced a bit more than if used according to clinical trials.
If you still feel insecure about taking the pill with your ulcer medication, try using a back-up method of contraception, like condoms, when you have ulcer flare-ups and take Zantac. If you're still feeling anxious using condoms (or foam), think about making an appointment with Primary Care Medical Services to talk about contraceptive alternatives to the pill. Call 4-2284 to schedule.
- Alice
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The pill and Zantac?
