What to do if you have accidentally taken two birth control pills?
By
Dr Drielli Vital-Fujii (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Drielli Vital-Fujii, PhD, is a Pharmacist with expertise in Drug Design and Development, Enzymes, Molecular Modelling, and Photodynamic Therapy. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Drielli Vital-Fujii’s Highlights:
- Postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Biochemistry at the University of São Paulo, emphasizing therapy of neglected diseases using light.
- PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences focusing on drug design and development at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of São Paulo.
- Six months as an international researcher at the Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases (University of California San Diego)
- Master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences focusing on drug design and development at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of São Paulo.
- Bachelor of Pharmacy at the University of Mogi das Cruzes – São Paulo / Brazil
Professional Experience:
2012 – 2018 Project manager at University of São Paulo – Pharmacy Department
Dr Drielli Vital-Fujii has worked with computational studies, synthesis, biological evaluation, design, and development of new inhibitor candidates for Chagas Disease and Leishmaniasis.
2017 – 2017 International research fellow at University of California San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences – Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases.
She used Virtual Screening (VS) and High-Throughput Screening (HTS) Integration in the Discovery of new drugs against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).
2018 – 2019 Faculdades Oswaldo Cruz
Dr Drielli Vital-Fujii was a professor in the Faculty of Pharmacy, teaching the subjects of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Drug Development.
2019 – 2021 Researcher in Biochemistry University of São Paulo – Biochemistry Department
She applied Photodynamic Therapy in Leishmaniasis Treatment, mentored undergraduate students in scientific activities, and wrote, executed, translated, and reported scientific projects with funding agencies.
2023-2023 UniPiaget – University Center.
Dr Drielli Vital-Fujii was a Biology, Nutrition, Physiotherapy, and Pharmacy professor.
Education:
2018 -2021 Postdoctoral at the Department of Biochemistry at the University of São Paulo
2013 -2018 PhD of Science: Drugs and Medicines at Department of Pharmacy at University of São Paulo
2012 -2013 M.Sc. of Sciences: Drugs and Medicines at the Department of Pharmacy at the University of São Paulo
2005-2008 Bachelor of Pharmacy at the University of Mogi das Cruzes
The leading publications of Dr Drielli Vital-Fujii are:
Vital-Fujii, D.G, Baptista, M.S. (2021). Progress in the photodynamic therapy treatment of Leishmaniasis. Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research, 54, 1-11.
Gatti, F. M., Gomes, R.A., da Fonseca, A.L., Lima, E.J.C., Vital-Fujii, D.G., Taranto, A.G., Varotti, F.P., Trossini, G.H.G. (2020). Antiplasmodial activity of sulfonylhydrazones: in vitro and in silico approaches. Future medicinal chemistry, 13, 233-250.
Silva, E.J., Bezerra-Souza, A., Passero, L.F., Laurenti, M.D., Ferreira, G.M., Fujii, D.G.V., et al. (2018). Synthesis, leishmanicidal activity, structural descriptors and structure-activity relationship of quinoline derivatives. Future medicinal chemistry, 10, 2069-2085.
Leite, F.H.A., Froes, T.Q., da Silva, S.G., de Souza, E.I.M., Vital-Fuji,i D.G., Trossini, G.H.G., et al. (2017). An integrated approach towards the discovery of novel non-nucleoside Leishmania major pteridine reductase 1 inhibitors. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 132, 322-332.
Vital, D.G., Damasceno, F.S., Rapado, L.N., Silber, A.M., Vilella, F.S., Ferreira, R.S., et al. (2017). Application of bioisosterism in design of the semicarbazone derivatives as cruzain inhibitors: a theoretical and experimental study. Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, 35, 1244–1259.
Mello, J. F.R., Gomes, R.A., Vital-Fujii, D.G., Ferreira, G.M., Trossini, G.H.G. (2017). Fragment-based drug discovery as alternative strategy to the drug development for neglected diseases. Chemical Biology & Drug Design, 90, 1067-1078.
Pantaleao, S.Q., Fujii, D.G.V., Maltarollo, V.G., da C. Silva, D., Trossini, G.H.G., Weber, K.C., et al. (2017). The Role of QSAR and Virtual Screening Studies in Type 2 Diabetes Drug Discovery. Medicinal Chemistry, 13, 706-720.
Vital, D., Arribas, M., Trossini, G. (2014). Molecular Modeling and Docking Application to Evaluate Cruzain Inhibitory Activity by Chalcones and Hydrazides. Letters in Drug Design and Discovery, 11, 249-255.
Blau, L., Menegon, R.F., Trossini, G.H.G., Molino, J.V.D., Vital, D.G., Cicarelli, R.M.B., et al. (2013). Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of new aryl thiosemicarbazone as antichagasic candidates. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 67, 142-151.
You can view some of Dr Drielli’s work below and links to her professional profile.
Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9270-0466
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Drielli-Gomes-Vital-Fujii
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=55829534000
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=F9U50AEAAAAJ&hl=pt-BR
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/driellivital
Escavador: https://www.escavador.com/sobre/6101380/drielli-gomes-vital
CDIPD: https://cdipd.org/index.php/about-us/visiting-scientists
What to do if you have accidentally taken two birth control pills?
If you have accidentally taken two birth control pills, don’t worry! An extra dose is not likely to harm you physically or cancel out the contraceptive effect. You will not be at risk of getting pregnant (1). However, reach out to your doctor if you feel unusual.
One extra birth control pill is not generally considered dangerous. However, taking an extra dose will leave you with one less dose to complete your schedule, but that could be easily fixed by taking one spare tablet from another pack.
As stated earlier, you don’t need to worry about your health or pregnancy if you have taken an extra dose and you can continue with your schedule and take the next dose on time if you feel okay. However, you can’t let this keep on going and you need to take your meds properly to avoid overdosing.
Potential risks of accidentally taking your birth control pills twice
While birth control pills are generally safe when taken as prescribed, taking two doses at once can overload your body with hormones, leading to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, breast tenderness, and headaches (1,2).
Additionally, it may disrupt your menstrual cycle and cause irregular bleeding. In rare cases, a double dose may lead to more severe side effects, like blood clots or hormonal imbalances (1,2).
How to ensure the proper use of birth control pills?
The following points are important to ensure the proper use of birth control pills (1):
- Take your birth control pill at the same time every day to maintain its effectiveness.
- Store your pills in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and moisture. Avoid exposure of the pills to high temperatures.
- Read the instructions provided by your healthcare provider or the medication packaging carefully.
- Don’t skip pills, and if you miss one, follow the specific guidelines given for your pill type.
- If you experience vomiting or diarrhoea within a few hours after taking the pill, use backup contraception.
- Avoid taking certain medications or supplements that may interact with birth control pills, unless approved by your healthcare provider.
- Keep track of your refill schedule to ensure you never run out of pills.
- Discuss any side effects or concerns with your healthcare provider promptly.
- Inform your doctor about any medical conditions or changes in health status that may affect the use of birth control pills.
Important advice
Avoid overdosing on meds as much as you can. Although two birth control pills will not affect you significantly, you need to be careful. If you struggle with remembering your meds, I recommend using a pill box.
You can simply fill it up and take your meds according to the days labelled on the small pill compartments. Even if you forget whether or not you have taken the tablet, you can simply check the pill box and know for sure.
You can also try placing your prescription bottle upside down after taking the med. It might take some time at first, but it will eventually become a habit and the position of the bottle will help you remember if you have taken the med or not.
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References
1.-
Cooper DB, Patel P, Mahdy H. Oral Contraceptive Pills. 2022 Nov 24. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 28613632. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430882
2.-
Teal S, Edelman A. Contraception Selection, Effectiveness, and Adverse Effects: A Review. JAMA. 2021 Dec 28;326(24):2507-2518. doi: 10.1001/jama.2021.21392. PMID: 34962522. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34962522/
