Can I Drink Alcohol While Taking Birth Control?

Birth control — sometimes referred to as contraception — is used by many people. In the U.S., it was used by as many as 65% of women ages 15 to 49 from 2015 to 2017. 

Birth control is mostly used as a way to prevent unwanted pregnancy. But hormonal medications, like birth control pills, can also be prescribed for heavy or painful periods, acne, and health conditions like endometriosis or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). 

Oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) are among the most common birth control methods, so it’s important to know whether or not it’s safe to combine them with alcohol. 

Here, we’ll discuss OCPs and alcohol — if they’re safe to combine, what risks there may be, and what else you may need to know. 

What is birth control? 

Birth control refers to the many different ways to prevent pregnancy. Usually, the goal of birth control is to prevent sperm from reaching the egg, prevent egg production, or prevent a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus.

What are some examples of birth control?

Birth control methods can be broken down into a few categories, including options that are: 

• Permanent: Vasectomy and tubal ligation (“tube tying”) 

• Intrauterine: Copper or hormonal intrauterine devices (IUDs)

• Barrier methods: Spermicide, diaphragm, sponge, and male or female condoms

• Hormonal: Implants, patches, shots, vaginal rings, or oral contraceptives

Although there are many types of birth control, this discussion focuses on OCPs. 

Can I take birth control with alcohol?

Taking birth control pills with alcohol doesn’t necessarily cause an interaction. But, in some cases, it may cause you to miss doses due to vomiting or forgetting to take your medication. Alcohol can also make some side effects of birth control worse.  

If drinking causes you to vomit within 3 hours of taking your birth control, you might not be getting the full dose of your medication. And, sometimes, drinking alcohol can cause you to forget to take your medication on time. This is especially risky with birth control pills because their effectiveness depends on taking them at the same time each day.  

So if you’re taking OCPs, you may not be as protected if you forget a pill or vomit soon after taking it. It’s important to make a plan with your healthcare provider about what to do if this happens.

Is having 1 or 2 drinks OK?

Having 1 or 2 drinks while taking birth control pills isn’t likely to cause a problem. However, everyone reacts differently to medications and alcohol, so always talk with your healthcare provider before drinking alcohol with any kind of medication.

Are certain people more at risk when combining birth control and alcohol?

Alcohol tolerance differs from person to person. The level of risk can vary, but certain people may be at a higher risk of complications and side effects. 

In particular, women may be more at risk for the long-term health effects of drinking alcohol, like high blood pressure, heart disease, or depression and anxiety. 

Birth control pills should also be used with caution in people with a high risk of having certain heart or blood circulation problems. This is because there is a chance of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) — a condition in which a blood clot forms in the legs or arms. You may have a higher risk of these complications if you: 

• Are over 35 years old and smoke cigarettes

• Have uncontrolled high blood pressure

• Have heart disease 

Since drinking can affect your long-term heart health, you may be more at risk for heart problems or blood clots if you frequently drink alcohol while taking OCPs.

If you have a history of heart problems, your healthcare provider may suggest a progestin-only pill. This option doesn’t contain estrogen and is safer for those with high blood pressure or history of DVTs. 

There’s also evidence to suggest that OCPs may be linked to depression, especially in teenagers. So if you drink regularly and also take birth control pills, you may be more at risk for developing depression.

How does alcohol interact with birth control?

A small, relatively outdated study from 1984 suggested that OCPs may slow down the rate at which people process alcohol in the body. This meant that alcohol levels could be higher in people taking birth control pills. 

However, this study doesn’t affect the current thinking of healthcare professionals. This is because there’s not much evidence that birth control and alcohol interact with one another.

In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends birth control for those who regularly drink alcohol and don’t want to get pregnant.

What are the typical side effects?

Even though birth control and alcohol may be taken together, they can both cause side effects. This is especially true when used together. The typical side effects of oral contraceptives are: 

• Breast soreness

• Bleeding on days other than your period

• Headache

• Nausea

Drinking alcohol can also cause headache and nausea, so when combined with OCPs, these side effects could be worse. 

Are there any serious risks or side effects?

The most serious risk of taking birth control pills is DVTs. Drinking alcohol with birth control pills may not directly raise the chance of developing blood clots, but regular, heavy drinking may cause you to develop certain heart conditions. This can make you more at risk for DVTs, which can be dangerous. 

When should I seek medical attention?

You should seek medical attention if you have pain, redness, or swelling in the legs or arms while taking OCPs. This is especially true if you’re over 35 years old and smoke cigarettes. 

When can I start drinking after stopping birth control?

Unless your healthcare provider tells you otherwise, you can start drinking immediately after stopping birth control. This is because the risk of combining alcohol and OCPs has more to do with missing pills and long-term health effects than a direct interaction between them. 

However, it’s also important not to skip birth control pills on days that you do drink alcohol. This will cause your birth control to not work as well.

How long does birth control stay in my system?

Typically, birth control pills will stay in your system for 1 to 3 days after stopping them. However, everyone processes medications at different rates, so you should check with your healthcare provider before making any decisions that depend on birth control being out of your system.

Are there any birth control options that don’t interact with alcohol?

If you’re using OCPs for pregnancy prevention and are concerned about remembering to take oral pills every day, then these other methods could be an option for you:

• Intrauterine device (IUD)

• Vaginal ring

• Patch

• Intramuscular (IM) injection

• Implant in the arm

• Condoms

If you’re taking OCPs to treat certain health conditions and not for pregnancy prevention, there may be other options available as well. Talk to your healthcare provider to find out the best treatment plan for you. 

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Sarah Lobello Pearson, PharmD

Sarah Pearson is a practicing pharmacist with over 10 years of experience in the field. She received her doctorate in pharmacy from the University of Georgia in Athens, GA.

Edited by:

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS, is a licensed pharmacist in Arizona, Colorado, and Rhode Island. He has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 10 years and currently serves as a pharmacy editor for GoodRx.

Reviewed by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

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