I'm Taking No Baby Pills To Avoid Babies

[trailerparkmedic]

Shalom's zillion stickers comment made me think of this.

I know that antibiotics can make birth control ineffective. I got a prescription of antibiotics recently from the same pharmacy that I get my birth control from. Since I'm not really interested in getting pregnant right now, I asked to talk to the pharmacist when I picked up my medication.

Me: "So, I know that I need to use backup birth control when I'm on this med. How long after discontinuing the medication do I need to keep using a backup?"
Pharm: "Well, it's up to you."
Me: "I'm taking my <name of birth control> to avoid pregnancy, and I'd like to continue to do so. Can I stop using condoms the same day that I finish this or do I need to wait a few days or a week or something?"
Pharm: "You're probably safe if you stop using condoms the same day you stop your <antibiotic>."
Me: "Probably?"
Pharm: "Yeah, you should be ok."

Right. Because "probably" and "you should be ok" are just what I want to hear in this situation. I left rather than press it further, but seriously? You have a Pharm D (according to her name tag) and that's the best you can tell me?

[yeahwhatev]

THIS is why there are corporate complaint forms and medical review boards for Doctors. The person you talked to is GUESSING. Just because you have a degree, does not instantly grant you up-to-date knowledge of everything, everywhere. People should NOT expect Pharmacists to know all drug interactions and affects off the top of their heads. That is what software programs, medical journals, and %#$ing consulting specialists is for! The Pharmacist you spoke to should be taught, FINANCIALLY SO, to keep their knowledge current and not let their ego run your health or future!

[Sapphire Silk]

All medications have a half life, so no, you cannot rely on your BCP as soon as you finish the anti biotics. You probably need to wait a few more days, depending on the half life of the medication.

[Andara Bledin]

Wow. Really? That's the best she can muster?

Since birth control is usually good to go after a week, that's how long I'd wait, just to be safe. Unless it was during or within 7 days of the start of your cycle, then you should be fine. Statistically speaking, anyway.

^-.-^

[trailerparkmedic]

I waited 2 weeks to be safe, and I avoided getting pregnant. Seeing as how I know friends whose kids are a result of antibiotic use, I was definitely not going to risk it.

[teh_blumchenkinder]

4 srs, chikie? :jawdrop:
I'd've reported that person to a manager or something... that is the opposite of what I expect from a medical professional! :(

[wolfie]

Not a doctor or pharmacist, but tend to pick up a little of everything.

From what I've heard, it's the Tetracycline family of antibiotics that interferes with birth control. If the antibiotic is from another family (e.g. the Penicillin family), you should be OK.

Also from what I've heard, birth control pills work by fooling your body into thinking it's already pregnant, so your ovaries won't release an egg. If something (e.g. Tetracycline) interferes with that, you could ovulate on the cycle where the interference occurs. To be safe, assume you're fertile until the cycle on which the interference happened is completely over (i.e. your first period after stopping the antibiotics).

[blas]

When I had a sinus infection this spring and went to Urgent Care, I informed the nurse who took my weight/BP that I'm on Lybrel (well, was at the time, now I'm on it's generic).

I saw the doc, she instantly prescribes me an antibiotic. I reiterated that I'm on the PILL. Hello.

She sighs, almost seems upset about having to research something, and looks up an antibiotic that would react the least with my Pill. Then she said "Use condoms or don't have sex for a week."

[Seshat]

Me, I'd agree with wolfie - failing better knowledge from a pharmacist. I'd wait the complete cycle out, and only consider myself protected from the next cycle.

[agirlfromnowhere]

This is how my mom got pregnant with my little sister. She even asked the doctor if her antibiotics would mess with her birth control and he said no.

We all love the little booger but still.