Pharmacy Contraception Service

GLP-1 agonist drugs prescribed for diabetes and / or weight loss management can interact with some contraceptives and make them less effective.

Contraception and weight loss medication:

The FSRH have recently released guidance on how to manage patients on oral contraception who also take GLP-1 agonists: https://fsrh.org/Common/Uploaded%20files/documents/CEU-statement-GLP-1-agonists-and-contraception.pdf

MHRA have also recently published guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/glp-1-medicines-for-weight-loss-and-diabetes-what-you-need-to-know/glp-1-medicines-for-weight-loss-and-diabetes-what-you-need-to-know

Main points

• All patients on GLP-1 agonists should be using contraception - there is no evidence on the safety of use of GLP-1 agonists in pregnancy
• Contraception should be used for the duration of use of the GLP1 agonist and continued until the drug has been eliminated from the body. Washout periods:
  • Tirzepatide = 1 month
  • Semaglutide = 2 months
  • Exenatide = 12 weeks
• Individuals using Tirzepatide and oral contraception
  • Advice is to switch to a non-oral contraceptive method, or add a barrier method of contraception, for four weeks after initiation and for four weeks after each dose increase
• Individuals on semaglutide, dulaglutide, exenatide, lixisenatide or liraglutide and oral contraception
  • There is no need to add a barrier method of contraception

Individuals who experience severe diarrhoea or vomiting during use of GLP-1 agonists should follow existing FSRH recommendations.

A generic patient leaflet can be found here: https://fsrh.org/Common/Uploaded%20files/documents/Patient-information-GLP-1-agonists-and-contraception.pdf

Pharmacists – if you have any questions please email the sexual health and HIV team for advice on SNHS.sexualhealthadvice@nhs.net