Do oral contraceptives have any interactions with ophthalmic antibiotics?

Question

I am using eyedrops to treat a case of pink eye. I have done quite a bit of research to see if my birth control with interact with them and not work properly. I have not found anything that says they will and it doesn't say anything in the information booklet the pharmacist gave me. I even asked him and he said he didn't know. Does anyone have a for-sure answer? A while after I take use my eyedrops and I can taste a medicinal taste in my throat, so I am afraid that I am ingesting the antibiotics and that this may cause my birth control to not work.

Answer 1

First it would help to know exactly what medications you are taking. There are several antibiotics used to treat pink eye (even though most cases are viral - you have to cover the potential for bacterial) and dozens of birth control pills.

At first glance, the 6 most common ophthalmic antibiotics do not have any drug interactions. But I do not consider this an authoritative source. My concern is something that you have already noticed. Ophthalmic drugs drain into the tear ducts which empty into the nasal cavity and a good portion of this drainage ends up in the GI tract, therefore there is some systemic absorption of the antibiotic.

Consulting the more authoritative source confirms this

Although subconjunctival injection of antibiotics produces fewer side effects than systemic administration, absorption may still occur. Some antibiotics like neomycin may produce toxic effects, especially in patients with impaired renal function.

An excellent review of antimicrobial drug delivery to the eye has been published by [2].

2. Lesar TS & Fiscella RG: Antimicrobial drug delivery to the eye. Drug Intell Clin Pharm 1985; 19:642-654.

Answer 2

I wouldn't worry, the amount absorbed into your body is very little. To decrease the amount absorbed, close your eyes for 5 minutes after putting the drop in your eye.
Think of eyedrops like creams/lotions. An antibiotic cream stays mostly on the skin. It does not go into your blood stream.
If you are still concerned, you can add a second layer of protection while using the eyedrops.