Rifabutin Hormonal contraceptives

Drugs That Interfere with Hormonal Contraceptives Concomitant use of HIV-protease inhibitors, griseofulvin, modafinil, penicillins, rifampin, rifabutin, phenytoin, carbamazepine, or certain herbal supplements such as St. John s wort with hormonal contraceptive agents may reduce the effectiveness of the contraception and up to one month after discontinuation of these concomitant therapies. Therefore, women requiring treatment with one or more of these drugs must use two other effective or highly effective methods of contraception or abstain from heterosexual sexual contact while taking thalidomide... 

Rifampin s potent induction of hepatic enzymes, especially cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4, may enhance the ehmination of many other drugs, most notably the protease inhibitors used to treat HIV (Table 110-7). HIV-positive patients may beneht from the use of rifabutin instead of rifampin (see below). ° Also, women who use oral contraceptives must use another form of contraception during therapy because increased clearance of the hormones may lead to unexpected pregnancies. Patient records should be reviewed for potential drug interactions before dispensing rifampin. Rifampin may turn urine and other secretions orange-red and may permanently stain some types of contact lenses. 

Levonorgestrel is metabolised to inactive substances before it is conjugated, and does not therefore undergo enterohepatic recycling of the active moiety. There is no reason to expect that its efficacy as an emergency contraceptive would be affected by antibacterials that alter gut flora and do not induce liver enzymes. No special precautions are necessary with these antibacterials. However, rifampicin and rifabutin are likely to reduce the efficacy of most forms of hormonal contraceptives, as they induce the metabolism of oestrogens and progestagens, see Hormonal contraceptives + Rifamycins , p. 1001. 

Hormonal contraceptives are less reliable during treatment with rifampicin. Breakthrough bleeding and spotting commonly occur, and pregnancy may not be prevented. Rifabutin also reduces the reliability of hormonal contraceptives, although it interacts to a lesser extent, and no contraceptive failures appear to have been reported. 

The FFPRHC has issued guidance on the use of liver enzyme inducers, such as rifampicin and rifabutin, with all forms of hormonal contraceptives, including the emergency hormonal contraceptive, and these are given in detail elsewhere, see Hormonal contraceptives + Antiepileptics Barhiturates or Phenytoin , p.985. 

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