Can a perscription medicine reduce the effectivness of birth control.?

Question

i got a tooth pulled the other week and the doctor put me on antibotics. I;m on birth control but thats the only thing we use. My period isn't suppose to start til the 10th but last saturday(31st) i spotted a little but nothing else. Today is the 3rd and i noticed i was spotting again last night and some today accompanied by cramps that feel like my regular period cramps. I only took the medicine for 5 five days. My questons would be is it normal to start bleeding a week early maybe due to the medicine? Should i call my doctor? Thanks

Answer 1

Yes, antibiotics can render birth control pills ineffective. Use protection for the next two cycles because you broke this cycle and you need one full cycle to get back in the loop.

Answer 2

Antibiotics interfere with your body's ability to metabolise the hormones in your birth control, severely reducing their effectiveness. So the drop in hormones (they aren't being absorbed) triggers bleeding, just like when you take the sugar pills. The drop in hormones can also trigger ovulation, which is why you need to use a backup form of contraception (like condoms) for the time you are taking the antibiotics and for seven days of active pills after. If those seven days would take you onto the sugar pills, then you need to skip the sugar pills and go straight to the active pills of a new pack. The doctor should really have explained this to you.

So the bleeding is normal, but if you have had unprotected sex (no condom) during the time you were on antibiotics, then you may need to have a pregnancy test later. It's the second most common cause of pregnancy while on birth control pills.

Answer 3

That is how I got pregnant with my first child. I was on antibiotics for an abcessed tooth. I was unaware that it interfered with the pill. Be careful, and use other forms of birth control. You may just be spotting before your period. Wait to see if you get your actual period before you start thinking you are pregnant.

Good Luck :)
Be Careful

Answer 4

ANything can reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills. I'm surpirsed that your pharmacist, when s/he handed you the antibiotics, didn't advise you and your partner to use condoms along with the pill for the rest of this cycle.

If you have a local 24/7 health hotline, call them first.

Answer 5

What you're experiencing sounds pretty normal and I've been through the same exact thing. And yes some medications can affect the effectiveness od birth control. Call your local pharmacist an tell them what two meds you're taking and ask them if one can affect the other and how. The spotting you're experienceing could be break through bleeding, however it sounds like to me your menstral will be arriving soon as I experience the same exact thing. You'll be fine.

Answer 6

Yep....antibiotics can and most of the time DO reduce the effectiveness of birth control. You need to use alternate contraception until you are done the antibiotics (and probably a week afterwards to be safe)

Answer 7

Get a pregnancy test my best friend got pregnant on the pill because no body told her that antibiotics could affect the pill and she got pregnant at 17. She had all the same symptoms you do.

Answer 8

Yes, sometimes antibiotics or other prescription medicines can affect the way the pill works. I would definitely call your dr to find out what they suggest.

Answer 9

Yes antibiotics can interfere with BCP. That is why the pharmacist and DR should ask when they fill a prescription if you are on any other medications and you need to answer truthfully.