After medicine is swallowed, it must be absorbed into the blood so it can move throughout the body. The process of absorbing, digesting, and excreting a medicine or food is called metabolism. The way the body metabolizes a particular medicine affects how often it must be taken. It also determines whether it will interact with other medicines or be affected by conditions such as liver disease.

Because of the way Inovelon® is broken down (digested), it is possible that other drugs would affect it. Also, Inovelon® could potentially affect the metabolism of other drugs that are digested in the liver (as many are), including birth control pills.

So things can get complicated, which is why the doctor needs to know about everything that a person takes—prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, vitamins and other dietary supplements, and herbs. In most cases, all the medicines can be used if the amounts are adjusted to allow for these changes.

Reviewed by Steven C. Schachter, MD
Submitted: 05/16/07