I am taking an Antibiotic and I am on the pill...

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Posted by anjerandunder

absolutely! usually the whole month is shot but you could always check with your doctor..i know i always used back up when i was on it..

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Yep! The whole month is shot. Use a backup method until you start your next pack of pills.

eat yogurt!!!!! dont want to get a yeast infection!!

and maybe use a condom just to be extra safe!

This is interesting information I found when researching this (i was nervous after being on antibiotic and the pill and not knowing if effectiveness was lowered)...seems that the only antibiotic proven to lower the pills effectiveness was the one used to treat tuberculosis. All others (according to planned parenthood) don't have an effect. AND even the one that does lower it, only lowers effectiveness from about 99% to 96%...still 10% more effective than condoms alone.

Sorry to sound like a medical book, but I was researching the same information two months ago :)

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/drcullins/040715_pill.asp

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Posted by Johnny&Maur

This is interesting information I found when researching this (i was nervous after being on antibiotic and the pill and not knowing if effectiveness was lowered)...seems that the only antibiotic proven to lower the pills effectiveness was the one used to treat tuberculosis. All others (according to planned parenthood) don't have an effect. AND even the one that does lower it, only lowers effectiveness from about 99% to 96%...still 10% more effective than condoms alone.

Sorry to sound like a medical book, but I was researching the same information two months ago :)

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/drcullins/040715_pill.asp

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Sorry ... just don't believe that ...

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Posted by Johnny&Maur

This is interesting information I found when researching this (i was nervous after being on antibiotic and the pill and not knowing if effectiveness was lowered)...seems that the only antibiotic proven to lower the pills effectiveness was the one used to treat tuberculosis. All others (according to planned parenthood) don't have an effect. AND even the one that does lower it, only lowers effectiveness from about 99% to 96%...still 10% more effective than condoms alone.

Sorry to sound like a medical book, but I was researching the same information two months ago :)

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/drcullins/040715_pill.asp

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I was on for strep I think last winter, and both the doctor and pharmacist warned me of the inefficacy of the pill when on the antibiotic...

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Posted by Johnny&Maur

This is interesting information I found when researching this (i was nervous after being on antibiotic and the pill and not knowing if effectiveness was lowered)...seems that the only antibiotic proven to lower the pills effectiveness was the one used to treat tuberculosis. All others (according to planned parenthood) don't have an effect. AND even the one that does lower it, only lowers effectiveness from about 99% to 96%...still 10% more effective than condoms alone.

Sorry to sound like a medical book, but I was researching the same information two months ago :)

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/drcullins/040715_pill.asp

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I've heard that too-- that the usual warning is based on a misconception (no pun intended )

Here's what I found...

Penicillin and ampicillin both have the potential to interfere with the effectiveness of birth control pills. To be safe, use a back-up method of birth control for the rest of the cycle (until you get your menstrual period) during which you took the antibiotics. It's advisable to follow this route (of using the pill, contraceptive back-up, and antibiotics), as opposed to stopping the pill while on antibiotics and restarting the following month. The stop-restart method causes unnecessary readjustment for your system. The mechanisms of how antibiotics may interfere with birth control pills is not clear, and although the interference may only happen a relatively few times, you don't want it to happen to you. It is best to err on the side of caution.

THANKS EVERYONE! I'll be sure to use a back up - or will become a born again virgin not taking any chances especially with my wedding almost 4 months away.

Oh, i def. wouldn't take chances either...its just that when i read that information i found it interesting...

I was also warned of interference from my doctor..but she also mentioned that people don't realize that the possibility of interference is so low...that its still much more effective than if you were to use condoms alone...

who knows?? Better safe than sorry, i agree :)