i know that it matters if you miss a day or something of taking your birthcontrol... but does it make a diff. if you take it an hour or so late?? or early? does that matter at all or not?
2006-12-03 18:20:00 · 12 answers · asked by california 3 in Health ➔ Women's Health
Now this is my subject. I have worked in Ob-Gyn for over 10 years and birth control is my thing. It depends on which birth control pill you are taking. Each one has a different half life. If you read your package insert it will tell you how long it stays in your system. Usually for the most part it doesnt matter to the minute if you take it. Early is better than later.
Keeping it close to something you do at a regular time helps. Brushing your teeth, turning off your alarm clock etc...just don't skip a pill. You can always double up on a pill but your are reducing the efficacy of the pill. Then it becomes a habit. Just remember the best thing to do when you take ANY medication is to read the insert or ask your pharmacist when you pick it up. Questions like this are always important.
The lower dose pills are the ones you have to be careful with. Regarding taking it at the same time. Like Lo-Estrin, Orthotricyclin-lo, any of the "lo" ones.
One thing you may run into if you start taking them earlier then usual is you may feel a little nauseated. Other than that you should be ok. You can also look up the medication you are taking on a Google search or Yahoo search. Look up the half-life of the medication and it will tell you.
Hope this helps!
Email me for any questions...I dont mind. egomezz007@yahoo.com
2006-12-03 18:35:54 · answer #1 · answered by egomezz007 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
As long as you are not speaking of Plan B, injectables, intravaginals, etc. And you are only speaking of the birth control pill and you are taking it for birth control and not for any other medical reasons ((hormone replacement, endometriosis, etc.)<-those do not have to be taken as regularly), then, and couple of hours, up to, and including 8 hours will be ok for 1-2 days. It also does not matter much if you miss one day, especially if you are not going to be taking it at the same time everyday. The pills work their best only when they are taken at the same time every day on a continual basis. But a few mess ups here and there shouldn't have you ending up pregnant and with a child in 9 months...(I use shouldn't very loosely here)
2006-12-03 18:33:15 · answer #2 · answered by Pharm12 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No honey it doesn't matter , you can even miss a day just take 2 at your next scheduled time, but never take more than that. It won't affect the way they work just as long as you take them on a regular basis, they will still work. Never miss 2 doses though, b/c then you will need to start all over.
2006-12-03 18:26:12 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It shouldn't matter if you take it an hour late, but don't make it a habit. Try to take it at the exact same time everyday.
2006-12-03 18:24:06 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i am assuming birth control pills...
i think i read somewhere here in the internet (but don't remember the exact site)that taking progestin-estrogen pills have 4 hours on-time and progestin only pills 1 1/2 hours on-time, meaning that you are still on-time when you take your pill within 4 hours (1 1/2 on progestin only)on your regular/usual time of pill taking.
so i think it's alright and it doesn't reduce the effectiveness, but missing pills might. but to be sure take your pills on time everyday for you to make it a habit and it makes sure you won't be missing pills.
2006-12-03 19:46:12 · answer #5 · answered by jae 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can take it early, and you will still be okay. Unfortunately, if you take it an hour late, then it will not work. It matters. You should also be careful which one you choose to take
2006-12-03 18:30:07 · answer #6 · answered by Free 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is best to take it at the same time everyday. so either pick in the morning or at night, and stick to it. no, if you are a hour late or early, that won't matter. but it does need to be the same timeframe each day.
2006-12-03 18:25:22 · answer #7 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well im sure its not a good idea to miss a pill or take it late. My friend missed a pill and then got her period for 14 days. Id have to say do what the doctor told you because you really dont wanna mess with your body.
2006-12-03 18:33:28 · answer #8 · answered by Steffi 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No I don't think an hour matters or morning vs. night. It may help if you said what this was, and we have to assume by your question you meant "birth control PILL" not something else.
2006-12-03 18:21:42 · answer #9 · answered by bluasakura 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no, it doesn't matter, though you wouldn't want to make a habit of taking it late in the night then again first thing in morning. If that happened once in a great while it would't hurt.
2006-12-03 18:24:02 · answer #10 · answered by jabbergirl 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋