UNITED KINGDOM – The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued a warning that certain widely used weight-loss medications could reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptive pills, urging users to consult healthcare providers and consider additional birth control methods.
The MHRA highlighted that several appetite-suppressing drugs may interfere with hormonal contraceptives, potentially lowering hormone levels and increasing the risk of unintended pregnancy. The advisory specifically mentions newer anti-obesity treatments that act on multiple biological pathways.
Patients taking both weight-loss medication and oral contraceptives are advised to seek medical guidance on alternative contraception, such as barrier methods, or menopausal oral regimens, while the MHRA continues to review real-world data and update recommendations.
Healthcare professionals have been asked to inform affected patients, discuss possible risks, and monitor hormone levels where feasible. The MHRA underlined that prescribers must balance the benefits of weight-loss therapy with reproductive health considerations.
This announcement reflects broader concerns over drug interactions affecting women’s health. Regulators emphasise transparent communication and informed decision-making to safeguard patient wellbeing until further study results are available.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.