Does taking antibiotics effect my birth control? How long until I am protected again?

Question

I know some antibiotics can decrease effectiveness of birth control (I am on orthotricyclen lo pills). I was put on sulfamethoxazole to treat a UTI/bladder infection last wed. (Its monday), and I am supposed to take it until this saturday (total of 10 days on the antibotics). Well, this is my green pill "placebo" week, so I was wondering if the antibotics would still have an effect on me?

Also, on sunday..the day after i stop taking my antibiotics and start my new pack of white hormone pills, will that whole pack be "ruined" because of the antibotics might still be in my system?

we always use condoms anyway, but i would just like to know how effective my pills would/should be...thanks

Answer 1

Keep taking your birth control as usual. Once you have finished your antibiotics, you need to take seven days in a row of active birth control pills before you're back to the normal level of protection. Use condoms etc for those seven days.

Answer 2

Your pills are ineffective while on antibiotics until 2 weeks after stopping the medicine. Which week of pills you are on does not make any difference. Just be sure that you continue to take your pills while on the medicine.

Ask your doctor about the antibiotics, b/c I am unsure that ALL antibiotics will make the BC pill ineffective. Usually your doctor will let you know to use a back up form of birth control when going on meds.

Answer 3

Antibiotics can affect your BCP. You should have gotten a write up with your antibiotics from your pharmacist. If you did not, I would suggest that you call your doctors office, tell them what antibiotics you took and ask about your BCP. Or you could call the pharmacist, they are usually good with questions like this.

Answer 4

DON'T TAKE A CHANCE WITH THIS. IT CAN HAPPEN. ANTIBIOTICS WIPE OUT THE BIRTH CONTROL, SO TAKE CARE. HAPPENED TO A FRIEND OF MINE THIS YEAR.

Answer 5

call a pharmacist