Drug & supplement interaction

Caffeine + Etonogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol

Etonogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol brand name: NuvaRing.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Etonogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol falls into 3 drug categories that Caffeine can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, estrogens might increase the levels and adverse effects of caffeine.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodProbable
Interactions3
EvidenceB
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Caffeine and Etonogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol

These two interact in 3 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 3 Interactions?

Caffeine interacts with whole categories of medication. Etonogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol falls into 3 of those categories, so it can interact with Caffeine in 3 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

ESTROGENS

1 of 3

Why this applies to Etonogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol

Etonogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol falls under ESTROGENS — the group Caffeine interacts with.

Theoretically, estrogens might increase the levels and adverse effects of caffeine.
Estrogen inhibits caffeine metabolism.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Probable Evidence B

Interaction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports..

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's something worth knowing about your NuvaRing. The estrogen in it (ethinyl estradiol) can slow down how fast your body clears caffeine. In plain terms, the caffeine you drink may stick around longer and feel a bit stronger than it normally would.

This isn't about the ring being less effective, it works just fine. It's the other way around: your coffee, tea, or energy drinks may hit harder. You might notice more jitteriness, a racing or pounding heart, trouble sleeping, or feeling on edge. The evidence here is fairly modest, so many people won't notice much. If you do feel wired, simply cutting back on caffeine usually does the trick. Chat with your pharmacist if you have questions.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Pollock BG, Wylie M, Stack JA, et al. Inhibition of caffeine metabolism by estrogen replacement therapy in postmenopausal women. J Clin Pharmacol 1999;39:936-40. PubMed
  2. Balogh, A., Klinger, G., Henschel, L., Borner, A., Vollanth, R., and Kuhnz, W. Influence of ethinylestradiol-containing combination oral contraceptives with gestodene or levonorgestrel on caffeine elimination. Eur.J.Clin.Pharmacol. 1995;48(2):161-166. PubMed
Minor

CYTOCHROME P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) INHIBITORS

2 of 3

Etonogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) INHIBITORS.

Theoretically, concomitant use might increase the levels and adverse effects of caffeine.
Caffeine is metabolized by CYP1A2. Theoretically, drugs that inhibit CYP1A2 may decrease the rate of caffeine clearance and increase caffeine levels.
Severity Minor Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the thing to keep in mind with your NuvaRing (etonogestrel and ethinyl estradiol) and your morning coffee: the interaction runs the other direction from what you might expect. The hormones, especially the estrogen part, can gently slow down a liver enzyme called CYP1A2, which is the same enzyme that clears caffeine out of your system. When caffeine hangs around a little longer, you may simply feel its effects more strongly.

In real life that might mean a bit more jitteriness, a racing or fluttery heartbeat, or trouble falling asleep from your usual cup. This is only a theoretical, minor interaction based on lab data, so most people won't notice much. If you do feel wired, just ease back on the caffeine, and chat with your pharmacist if you have questions.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Hagg S, Spigset O, Mjorndal T, Dahlqvist R. Effect of caffeine on clozapine pharmacokinetics in healthy volunteers. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2000;49:59-63. PubMed
  2. Carrillo JA, Benitez J. Clinically significant pharmacokinetic interactions between dietary caffeine and medications. Clin Pharmacokinet 2000;39:127-53. PubMed
Minor

CONTRACEPTIVE DRUGS

3 of 3

Etonogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol also falls under CONTRACEPTIVE DRUGS.

Theoretically, contraceptive drugs might increase the levels and adverse effects of caffeine.
Oral contraceptives decrease the rate of caffeine clearance by 40-65%.
Severity Minor Likelihood Possible Evidence B

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the interesting twist with the NuvaRing: it's not that your birth control gets weaker or stronger from caffeine. It's the other way around. The estrogen in your ring (ethinyl estradiol) can slow down how fast your body clears caffeine, in some studies by around 40 to 65 percent. That means a cup of coffee may linger longer and hit a bit harder than it would otherwise.

In real life, you might notice more of the usual caffeine stuff if you tend to drink a lot of it: feeling jittery, a racing or pounding heart, or trouble falling asleep. This is rated minor and the evidence is modest, so most people do fine. If you feel wired, simply easing back on coffee, tea, or energy drinks usually does the trick. Check with your pharmacist if you're unsure.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Pollock BG, Wylie M, Stack JA, et al. Inhibition of caffeine metabolism by estrogen replacement therapy in postmenopausal women. J Clin Pharmacol 1999;39:936-40. PubMed
  2. Abernethy DR, Todd EL. Impairment of caffeine clearance by chronic use of low-dose oestrogen-containing oral contraceptives. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 1985;28:425-8. PubMed

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Caffeine Also Interacts With Other Medications

Caffeine has 8 major, 482 moderate, 164 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Etonogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 8 Moderate 482 Minor 164 No known interaction 2,176 (incl. Etonogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Caffeine

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Caffeine. Pick one to open its full report.

From our Q&A

Questions About Caffeine or Etonogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Caffeine or Etonogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Etonogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol

This page covers Caffeine only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Etonogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol page lists 203 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Grapefruit (major), St. John's Wort (major), Acacia Rigidula (moderate), Activated Charcoal (moderate) and Adrafinil (moderate).

By severity: 2 major · 168 moderate · 33 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Etonogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol page

“St. John's wort belongs at the top of any conversation about NuvaRing (etonogestrel and ethinyl estradiol) and supplements.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Etonogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Caffeine as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 6,775 real supplement products containing Caffeine, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Caffeine. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Etonogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol too, on top of Caffeine — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Caffeine and Etonogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Caffeine
Top 5%

#24 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Etonogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol
Top 25%

#603 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Caffeine

What is Caffeine?

  • Mental alertness and reducing fatigue
  • Improving athletic performance
  • Headache and migraine relief
  • Boosting focus and concentration
  • Weight loss aid

Caffeine is a natural stimulant found in coffee, tea, and many other plants and products. In moderate amounts it can boost alertness and reduce tiredness for most healthy adults, but too much can cause jitteriness, a racing heart, and sleep problems. Pregnant women and people with heart conditions or anxiety should be especially careful and check with a doctor or pharmacist.

Read the full Caffeine monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Caffeine

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Caffeine — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

8Major
482Moderate
164Minor
2,175No known interaction
8 Major 482 Moderate 164 Minor 2,175 No interaction
Major

8 interactions

Moderate

482 interactions

Showing 60 of 482 moderate interactions — see all 482 on the Caffeine page.

Minor

164 interactions

Showing 60 of 164 minor interactions — see all 164 on the Caffeine page.

No interaction 2,175 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Caffeine against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,175 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Caffeine list.

See the full Caffeine interactions page
See every supplement checked against Etonogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol, ranked by severity
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
Caffeine monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Etonogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Etonogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol, ranked by severity Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Caffeine and Etonogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol Together: Common Questions

Can you take Caffeine with Etonogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
Why are there 3 interactions listed for Caffeine and Etonogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol?
Etonogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol belongs to more than one drug category, and Caffeine interacts with each of those categories a little differently. We list every one so nothing is missed — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them.
How serious is the Caffeine and Etonogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.