Are there any allergies to birth control?

Over-the-counter allergy medicines vs. Birth control?

• I have rather bothersome allergies, that cause severe migraines if I do not take something for them. I was wondering if over-the-counter allergy medicines, such as Benadryl or Zyrtec, can decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills? I know that most antibiotics have warnings on the label, since they do affect birth control, but do over-the-counter medicines do the same, especially if I take them daily?

• Answer:

  Allergy medicines have no affect on the effectiveness of birth control pills. Antibiotics do. When in doubt, ask the pharmacist. They can run the names of both meds in their computers and see how they react. But I've been on the pill for a year and a half and I pretty much live on Claritin-D and Benadryl b/c I'm alergic to everything under the sun and I'm not pregnant. Pharmacists always told me it doesn't matter.