antibiotics and the pill

ive never found any clear answer, so do any of you know...

i understand that the pill may be less effective while youre on an antibiotic. when does it go back to being as effective as it was before? right after you discontinue the antibiotic?? my mom once said something about being 'careful' for the rest of my whole pill pak!

whats the deal?
TIA.

I dont think ALL antibiotics affect the pill. You should check with the doc. Ive been on antibiotics while on the pill and have never taken any precautions. Probably irresponsible of me, but luckily nothing has happened

my GYN told me to use a backup until I start the new pack

Not all antibiotics effect the pill B U T different doctors will tell you different things so I just pretend like they all do. . .

i think it did mention it in the pamphlet tho. even if it didn't i want to still be cautious, lol. also im off the antibiotic now. just curious how long the possible lowered effectiveness can last?

btw, my sis conceived on the pill this way! it def can happen.

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Posted by ant n tilde

my GYN told me to use a backup until I start the new pack

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maybe mama was right!

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Not all antibiotics effect the pill B U T different doctors will tell you different things so I just pretend like they all do. . .

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exactly. even if it doesn't actually lower it, id rather be safe than surprised. lol

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Posted by Aug07OFCbride

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Posted by ant n tilde

my GYN told me to use a backup until I start the new pack

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maybe mama was right!

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Not all antibiotics effect the pill B U T different doctors will tell you different things so I just pretend like they all do. . .

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exactly. even if it doesn't actually lower it, id rather be safe than surprised. lol

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EXACTLY!! My derm told me that this antibiotic I was taking for body breakouts was 100% safe -he kind of laughed at me for asking.

I called my GYN and she said that tests were inconclusive on it! Thank goodness I called!

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Posted by ant n tilde

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Posted by Aug07OFCbride

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Posted by ant n tilde

my GYN told me to use a backup until I start the new pack

---

maybe mama was right!

---

Not all antibiotics effect the pill B U T different doctors will tell you different things so I just pretend like they all do. . .

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exactly. even if it doesn't actually lower it, id rather be safe than surprised. lol

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EXACTLY!! My derm told me that this antibiotic I was taking for body breakouts was 100% safe -he kind of laughed at me for asking.

I called my GYN and she said that tests were inconclusive on it! Thank goodness I called!

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What antibiotic was that if you don't mind me asking. Just curious bc I have the same problem sometimes.

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Posted by Aug07OFCbride

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Posted by ant n tilde

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Posted by Aug07OFCbride

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Posted by ant n tilde

my GYN told me to use a backup until I start the new pack

---

maybe mama was right!

---

Not all antibiotics effect the pill B U T different doctors will tell you different things so I just pretend like they all do. . .

---

exactly. even if it doesn't actually lower it, id rather be safe than surprised. lol

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EXACTLY!! My derm told me that this antibiotic I was taking for body breakouts was 100% safe -he kind of laughed at me for asking.

I called my GYN and she said that tests were inconclusive on it! Thank goodness I called!

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What antibiotic was that if you don't mind me asking. Just curious bc I have the same problem sometimes.

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The brand name was Doryx. It worked great - I used it for my wedding BUT I was on antibiotics for MONTHS, over six months! And I also got my back 'frozen' with that cold stuff, forgot what it is called. It worked great and my back was clear for my wedding.

i have been telling everyone that it doesnt work though because i went off after the wedding ( it was $$ to go to the derm every week for the treatments and i had to stay out of the sun ) and my acne came back BUT now it went away again!! So maybe my body was reacting to stopping the antibiotic and then now the acne is really gone? not sure, but i didnt even notice bc i am so used to hiding my back LOL my mom noticed when she was altering a dress for me

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Posted by Songstress

I dont think ALL antibiotics affect the pill. You should check with the doc. Ive been on antibiotics while on the pill and have never taken any precautions. Probably irresponsible of me, but luckily nothing has happened

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im totally guilty of this too. Also, not that I think you should follow this - but my girlfriend is a gyno and she said it really doesnt matter. Sometimes it messes up your flow (spotting and stuff) but as far as pregnancy - never happens

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Posted by Bride908

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Posted by Songstress

I dont think ALL antibiotics affect the pill. You should check with the doc. Ive been on antibiotics while on the pill and have never taken any precautions. Probably irresponsible of me, but luckily nothing has happened

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im totally guilty of this too. Also, not that I think you should follow this - but my girlfriend is a gyno and she said it really doesnt matter. Sometimes it messes up your flow (spotting and stuff) but as far as pregnancy - never happens

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I wouldn't say it NEVER happens... because well the baby boy I'm having is proof that it can. I was on the pill for 3 years, and never got pregnant, but 3 months after our wedding I got sick and took an antibiotic and 3 weeks later I found out I was pregnant.

I would be cautious until the next full pack. Obviously not a medical reason, but just IMHO.

It's not the antibiotic itself that interferes with the pill. But the hormones in the pill are absorbed from the GI tract (especially the intestines) with the help of all the good bateria in there.

The antiobiotics kill not only your bad bacteria, but also your good ones. (That's why you sometimes get GI upset and diarrhea when you take antibiotics). So with less good bacteria around, there's less hormones absorbed into your body. It's not exact as to how much less it's absorbed because everyone is affected differently. But as a precaution, we (pharmacists) tell women to use another source of protection while they're on antiobiotics.

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Posted by mrspalomino148

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Posted by Bride908

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Posted by Songstress

I dont think ALL antibiotics affect the pill. You should check with the doc. Ive been on antibiotics while on the pill and have never taken any precautions. Probably irresponsible of me, but luckily nothing has happened

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im totally guilty of this too. Also, not that I think you should follow this - but my girlfriend is a gyno and she said it really doesnt matter. Sometimes it messes up your flow (spotting and stuff) but as far as pregnancy - never happens

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I wouldn't say it NEVER happens... because well the baby boy I'm having is proof that it can. I was on the pill for 3 years, and never got pregnant, but 3 months after our wedding I got sick and took an antibiotic and 3 weeks later I found out I was pregnant.

I would be cautious until the next full pack. Obviously not a medical reason, but just IMHO.

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like i said before, i def wouldnt say it never happens. i have a nephew thats proof too. lol

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Posted by jenlen

It's not the antibiotic itself that interferes with the pill. But the hormones in the pill are absorbed from the GI tract (especially the intestines) with the help of all the good bateria in there.

The antiobiotics kill not only your bad bacteria, but also your good ones. (That's why you sometimes get GI upset and diarrhea when you take antibiotics). So with less good bacteria around, there's less hormones absorbed into your body. It's not exact as to how much less it's absorbed because everyone is affected differently. But as a precaution, we (pharmacists) tell women to use another source of protection while they're on antiobiotics.

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thx for the info!

kinda sounds like its not really clearcut how much less effective it can make the pill and how long but ill just be cautious.

I never got a clear answer either....so 2 months ago when i had really bad strept i made sure i asked my doctor...and he said - ABSOLUTELY. he said anti-biotics pretty much completely destroy any results that oral contraceptive for b.c would normally give.. so use a backup!

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Posted by jtgarsik

I never got a clear answer either either....so 2 months ago when i had really bad strept i made sure i asked my doctor...and he said - ABSOLUTELY. he said anti-biotics pretty much completely destroy any results that oral contraceptive for b.c would normally give.. so use a backup!

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booo!!!!

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Posted by Aug07OFCbride

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Posted by jtgarsik

I never got a clear answer either either....so 2 months ago when i had really bad strept i made sure i asked my doctor...and he said - ABSOLUTELY. he said anti-biotics pretty much completely destroy any results that oral contraceptive for b.c would normally give.. so use a backup!

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booo!!!!

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yea - BOOOO!!!

that...and alcohol! i'm not really a drinker anyway, but so much for drunken newlywed sex without worries

I usually tell my patients in the pharmacy to definately use back-up for the rest of their current cycle, and sometimes the next cycle if they are near/at the end of their current one. It's basically just to cover my ***... I do not want someone coming back to the pharmacy a few months later pissed at me or even worse throwing a law suit at me because I did not warn them to use back up for long enough!