Antibiotics and Birth Control Pills

[AmericangirlinFrance]

Any experiences? I'm on a relatively low dose of Amoxicillin. The pharmacist said it's such a low dose, I shouldn't have any problems with decreasing the effectiveness of my birth control, so I shouldn't need to use a "backup method."

So I called another pharmacist at a different Walgreens because that sounded fishy to me (I have always heard that antibiotics decrease the effectiveness of BCPs) - and he said I should use a "backup method" for while I'm taking the antibiotics, and for the next MONTH after I finish the antibiotics!! Say what?!

Obviously, I am going to "prevent" in other ways in addition to the BCPs just to be on the safe side, but... seriously?! I was just shocked to get such differing opinions. It concerned me a bit!

Anyone have any stories or experiences with this? What have you been told about the interactions between antibiotics and BCPs?

 

[bjgrazi]

I'll introduce you to my 22 year old. I was on the pill when I got pregnant with her. I had been sick and put on antibiotics. Before her, I never knew that they could stop the effectiveness of the pill.

 

[minkydog]

Unless you want to change your name to "Mama", I'd go with the more conservative opinion. The first pharmacist may or may not be right, but he's not gonna be the one who is responsible for the Little Stranger, should you get pregnant.

 

[pls5286]

You definitely need to use a back up method while on any type of antibiotics. Your body can ovulate at any time while on BCP and antibiotics. Your cycle can start with fertility. You need to use a back up method until you start your next full menstrual cycle to ensure you don't catch the egg.

 

[meliss8599]

I was just on a strong antibiotic and my doctor (who is unbelievably wonderful) told me to definitely use an alternate form of BC for the month afterward.

 

[SookieStackhouse]

If you mix them... you have two options:

1. Chastity
2. Backup Method

 

[CleoPahd]

A good friend of mine with a toddler was on antibiotics and didn't think to use a "back up" method. She now has a toddler and twins. You're really rolling the dice if you don't have a plan B for a month or so during and after the antibiotics.

 

[clh2]

Unless you want to change your name to "Mama", I'd go with the more conservative opinion. The first pharmacist may or may not be right, but he's not gonna be the one who is responsible for the Little Stranger, should you get pregnant.

As usual...Minky has great advice!!!

My niece "moved" her planned wedding up about 4 months, because they fell into this "antibiotics while on the pill" problem. Now - their daughter is a 10, and is just a doll, so in their case, this worked out fine.

 

[JessicaR]

Mayo Clinic

Can antibiotics decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills?
The effects of antibiotics on birth control pills may be overstated — except in the case of one antibiotic, rifampin. Studies clearly show that rifampin decreases the effectiveness of birth control pills in preventing ovulation. However, rifampin isn't used widely. Chances are you wouldn't be taking it unless you had tuberculosis or had tested positive for the disease.

Hypothetically speaking, other antibiotics, particularly penicillin and tetracycline derivatives, could impair the effectiveness of birth control pills in a small percentage of women. Researchers can't rule out this possibility, but no large studies have proved such an effect.

If you're taking a newer, extremely low-dose oral contraceptive, you could be more susceptible to this potential antibiotic effect. If you're concerned, consider using a barrier method of contraception for the duration of your antibiotic prescription.

Do antibiotics make birth control pills less effective?

Early data about 20 years ago seemed to indicate that when antibiotics were taken along with birth control pills, more women got pregnant than you would normally expect. Drugs like ampicillin and tetracycline were suspected to interfere with OCPs (3). However, all of the recent studies that have looked at this, have shown that antibiotics do not increase the pregnancy rate at all (4) and they point out that the old data was not reliable enough to draw conclusions about pregnancy rates on any of the antibiotics (5).

Some antibiotics have been studied and shown not to affect the metabolism of OCPs. Ciprofloxcin (Cipro ®) is one that does not seem to alter metabolism (6). Fluconazole (Diflucan ®) does not decrease estrogen levels in pill users; if anything, it raises estrogen levels (7).



http://www.wdxcyber.com/ncontr10.htm

 

[MickeySP]

I would love to I introduce u to my DS & DGD both here due to
tretracyclin!

 

[JessicaR]

I would love to I introduce u to my DS & DGD both here due to
tretracyclin!

tetracycline - not used so much anymore.

 

[AmericangirlinFrance]

Mayo Clinic

Can antibiotics decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills?
The effects of antibiotics on birth control pills may be overstated — except in the case of one antibiotic, rifampin. Studies clearly show that rifampin decreases the effectiveness of birth control pills in preventing ovulation. However, rifampin isn't used widely. Chances are you wouldn't be taking it unless you had tuberculosis or had tested positive for the disease.

Hypothetically speaking, other antibiotics, particularly penicillin and tetracycline derivatives, could impair the effectiveness of birth control pills in a small percentage of women. Researchers can't rule out this possibility, but no large studies have proved such an effect.

If you're taking a newer, extremely low-dose oral contraceptive, you could be more susceptible to this potential antibiotic effect. If you're concerned, consider using a barrier method of contraception for the duration of your antibiotic prescription.

Do antibiotics make birth control pills less effective?

Early data about 20 years ago seemed to indicate that when antibiotics were taken along with birth control pills, more women got pregnant than you would normally expect. Drugs like ampicillin and tetracycline were suspected to interfere with OCPs (3). However, all of the recent studies that have looked at this, have shown that antibiotics do not increase the pregnancy rate at all (4) and they point out that the old data was not reliable enough to draw conclusions about pregnancy rates on any of the antibiotics (5).

Some antibiotics have been studied and shown not to affect the metabolism of OCPs. Ciprofloxcin (Cipro ®) is one that does not seem to alter metabolism (6). Fluconazole (Diflucan ®) does not decrease estrogen levels in pill users; if anything, it raises estrogen levels (7).



http://www.wdxcyber.com/ncontr10.htm

I read this, too.

I am CERTAINLY going to use a back-up method to be safe, but I am frustrated that there is such inconsistent information - it seems that .although some antibiotics do interfere with BCPs (tetracyclines, Rifampin), some do not, at least according to more recent medical studies (although pair that with what "anecdotal evidence" most women hear, and who knows) Getting such inconsistent answers from two different pharmacists also concerns me.

Although I will "take the safe option," I am really curious now to find some medical literature or hard evidence answering this question better. This seems like such a common problem for so many women, surely there would be more accurate information available, although that doesn't seem to be the case.

 

[Magpie]

tetracycline - not used so much anymore.

Really? I've used tetracycline, and not that long ago, either. (But I don't have to worry anymore about getting pregnant, fortunately! )

 

[sunnyday123]

I don't know about antibiotics, but tequila sure does a number on birth control....

 

[KPeveler]

Any experiences? I'm on a relatively low dose of Amoxicillin. The pharmacist said it's such a low dose, I shouldn't have any problems with decreasing the effectiveness of my birth control, so I shouldn't need to use a "backup method."

So I called another pharmacist at a different Walgreens because that sounded fishy to me (I have always heard that antibiotics decrease the effectiveness of BCPs) - and he said I should use a "backup method" for while I'm taking the antibiotics, and for the next MONTH after I finish the antibiotics!! Say what?!

Obviously, I am going to "prevent" in other ways in addition to the BCPs just to be on the safe side, but... seriously?! I was just shocked to get such differing opinions. It concerned me a bit!

Anyone have any stories or experiences with this? What have you been told about the interactions between antibiotics and BCPs?

The BCP prevents your ovaries from ovulating. You must take the pill at the same time every day to keep the hormones the same. If you do this, you prevent the egg from being released.

When you take antibiotics it for whatever reason, messes with the hormones you are taking. When this happens, your ovaries may prepare to release an egg.

You must not only use backup birth control for the time you are taking the antibiotics, you must take it for this ENTIRE cycle. If you mess with the pills at the beginning of the pack, then your ovaries could still ovulate later in the month.

 

[hellokitty86]

tetracycline - not used so much anymore.

I was on in it when I was put in the hospital in November. I'm allergic to several antiboitics and its one of the only ones I can take.

OP- Better safe than sorry...

 

[disfan07]

I have been told by every doctor ever to always us back-up BC while on antibiotics.

Heck, it says that ON my BCPs. It specifically says that antibiotics may reduce the effectiveness of the BCP.

I've never heard anything different

 

[surfergirl602]

My DD 10 was conceived while on antiniotics and ortho tri cyclen when I was in college. No one told me about the interaction at 19 years old. I guess I should hav read the insert, huh? But she's an awesome kid, so I don't regret it a bit! She's going to do amazing things with her life. It's just a shame she takes after her daddy. She's his hunting partner and knows how to handle herself at 10 more than i do and 30! ha ha ha No girly dance or pink for her. It's combat boots and max 4 camo. sigh.

 

[FINFAN]

add me to the list...stick turned blue and we were shocked to say the least. Amoxicillin for bronchitis. Unfortunately I miscarried ( maybe due to the fact that we had been skiing, falling , drinking on a big party weekend and I had no idea I was pg) but anyway..yeah...use a back-up plan. My doctor did NOT inform me if using anything else, I learned the hard way with my OB saying (after the fact) oh, you were on antibiotics, that certainly could have altered the effect of your bc pill". Thanks for the update.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

I was a young, newly married 18 year old when I got strep throat. No one told me anything about BC pills and antibiotics. That was 17 years ago, and I have a 16.5 year old DD. I love her, she is a great kid, but I did not plan to have a child so early in my life and marriage. I too was on Amoxicillin.