Ok I know for a fact that antibiotics greatly reduce the effectiveness of birth control...cause it happened to my sister...
All my doc has ever told me was about the antibiotics but are there any other meds (prescription & non) that do also? I've been battling with a cold/sinuses/allergies all week & have been taking either Claritin or Sudafed. Do those affect it at all?
I'm always extra careful but I just want to make double sure just so that I'm more informed......
2007-03-08 06:35:41 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Women's Health
Oops I also forgot to mention this...
I DO know about St. John's Wort but no worries cause I don't take that.
I DO know about taking my BC the same time every day. I'm actually very anal about that....it's at the same exact time every day (middle of my lunch hour at work) & I have never forgotten it in the few years I've been on it.
2007-03-08 07:04:28 · update #1
Claritin or Sudafed should be fine. Some other meds that can affect the pill are:
-Oral Antifungals (Think diflucan or other yeast infection drugs... vaginal antifungals like Monistat are okay)
-Some sedatives
-Anticonvulsants
-Antacids
While these medicines have all been shown to affect how the pill absorbs in your body, they may or may not change how effective the pill is. So it's kind of a "Rather safe than sorry" sort of situation... they probably won't hurt the pill's effectiveness, but heck, a week's worth of condom use is still cheaper than a kid.
2007-03-08 07:21:24 · answer #1 · answered by MissA 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The only thing I've heard of other than antibiotics is St. John's Wort.
I take cold and allergy meds all the time and it has never affected my BC.
2007-03-08 14:38:36 · answer #2 · answered by Nasubi 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I have learned through my career is that any anti- anything will effect them including anti-biotics anti-virals and other things along that line. I have never heard of over the counter medications interact with BC but any questions ask your pharmacist.
Tips for effective BC: Take everyday at the same time. And REMEMBER!!!!
2007-03-08 14:53:00 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, those won't reduce the effectiveness. Anti-biotics do and so does the over the counter St. John's Wort.
2007-03-08 14:39:40 · answer #4 · answered by KD 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Any meds that will change the efficacy of the pill have to be labeled as such. Antihistamines and Decongestants are fine. Check with your pharmacist if you have any questions and always read the labels.
2007-03-08 14:41:23 · answer #5 · answered by racheldahm 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The only ones I'm aware of are some antibiotics.
2007-03-08 14:39:02 · answer #6 · answered by Yellow Tail 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
no other medication to my knoledge has a drug interaction warning, just the antibotics. i wouldnt worry about the OTC medicines. good luck & be safe
2007-03-08 14:42:27 · answer #7 · answered by Lillian S. Phx Arizona 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Seizure medications will also affect birth control. My sister is pregnant with her second child because of this. : )
2007-03-08 14:45:13 · answer #8 · answered by tessasmomy 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋