Chloroquine + Ethinylestradiol/Levonorgestrel = Unknown or no reaction

Effect on Concentration

Chloroquine
No change
Applies within class?
No
Ethinylestradiol/Levonorgestrel
No change
Applies within class?
No

Pharmacologic Effects

Chloroquine
Effect
N/A
Applies within class?
No
Ethinylestradiol/Levonorgestrel
Effect
N/A
Applies within class?
No

Interaction History

N/A

Last Updated 15-May-2020

Summary

There is therefore, no evidence that CQ or PQ interfere with the hepatic handling of OCs.

Sources

Pharmacokinetics of oral contraceptive steroids following the administration of the antimalarial drugs primaquine and chloroquine ^

Study Design

The effects of a single dose of 2 antimalarial drugs, chloroquine (CQ) and primaquine (PQ) on the pharmacokinetics of a combined oral contraceptive (OC) have been studied in volunteers. Each woman was studied on 3 separate occasions over 3 cycles and plasma concentrations of ethinyl estradiol (EE2) and levonorgestreal were measured by radioimmunoassay following administration of a single dose of OC (30 mcg EE2150 mcg levonorgestrel) in the absence and presence of the antimalarial drugs (PQ--45 mg; CQ--300 mg).

Study Results

Neither drug given 1 hour before the OC had any significant effect on pharmacokinetic concentrations of EE2 or levonorgestrel or on any pharmacokinetic parameter determined.

Study Conclusions

There is therefore, no evidence that CQ or PQ interfere with the hepatic handling of OCs.

References

Back, DJ. Pharmacokinetics of oral contraceptive steroids following the administration of the antimalarial drugs primaquine and chloroquine. Contraception. 1984; 3: 289-95.