Bigeme

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So, my girl is on the path, but right now she is taking antibiotics. I have heard that antibiotics mess with birthcontrol, so we've been using an extra layer of protection for the past week. How long after she finishes the antibiotics should we be concerned?

kulotsalot

ask her doctor - that is the only way to know for sure what is affecting what

MoreCowBell

Id keep using a condom (or whatever extra layer you mean) for at least a month after she finishes the antibiotic


Now, for some antibiotics, this would be overkill (ie, a few i used to take for sinus infections only stayed in my blood 7-10 days after i stop taking them)
But for others, such as one i took with a really bad infection once, they kept working 24 days after i stopped taking them.

Your going to have to (or she has to) ask a doctor about the specific time frame of her particular antibiotic. If you dont, 1 month should be a safe amount of time.




And yes, antibiotics do neutralize the pill, as was the case for my sis.
Its all good though, she was 21, was with the guy for 4 years (they were going to get married before she got pregnant) and had been on the pill for 3 years, but she was taking an antibiotic for an infection and didnt know it could do that, so viola, they had a kid a little earlier then expected.

So you were at least safe in protecting yourself more, and to that i salute you m8

Bigeme

Thanks for the input and the fast response. Only problem is that its kind of hard to see a doctor on campus (Student health center is what gave her the medicine). I'm not sure what drug it is, but until I find out more I guess I'll take your month advice.

kulotsalot

Can't a pharmacist answer that sort of question?

skept

Yes a pharmacist would be able to inform you about drug interactions that could occur. The alternative is to PM Jimi and ask him.

MoreCowBell

Yes, a pharmacist can (and i hope to god should) be able to at least answer a basic question of how long they affect the body (ie, the antibiotics)

Or if you find out the name of the drug, just give a quick call home to your family physician and he should be able to answer it on the phone, or look it up for you and call back.

tkd_guy01

Just wait it out, better safe than sorry

MoreCowBell

Thats his plan, but he wanted to know how long to wait........

Bigeme

Yea thank you cowbell. I can't say I'm a big fan of the jimihat and for some reason I don't trust it. O well, I'm going home this weekend so shouldn't be a problem for a few days.

grayden607

Hey... I work in a pharmacy.... Antibiotics CAN decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills... dont risk it, use additional protection.

MoreCowBell

Jeez.......does no one read the whole thread now a days?

We've already established that extra protection is warranted, but the OP wants to know FOR HOW LONG he should use a condom?
(ie, how long can an antibiotic still be present in the blood stream after they stop taking it)

OrdinaryGirl

The last time I was in this situation, I was told to use extra protection until the next cycle of pills I started once I was done the prescription antibiotics.

grayden607

sorry for lack of clarification..... a week to 10 days AFTER COMPLETING THE ANTIBIOTIC COURSE is sufficient