CONTRACEPTIVES AND NSAIDS

A study in women taking ethinylestradiol and norethisterone-containing oral contraceptives found that the addition of etoricoxib increased the steady-state levels of ethinylestradiol by 50 to 60%, but the rise in norethisterone levels was not clinically relevant.
There would appear to be no reason for avoiding concurrent use but the manufacturers suggest that this increase in ethinylestradiol levels should be considered when choosing a hormonal contraceptive. It may be appropriate to use a contraceptive with a lower dose of ethinylestradiol.