HELP!!!!!! QUESTIONS ABOUT PLAN B!!!!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-12-2004
HELP!!!!!! QUESTIONS ABOUT PLAN B!!!!!
8
Wed, 05-12-2004 - 3:50pm
Okay, here's my dilemma. I've been on the pill for about 3 years now but recently I've been taking prescription medication that may (or may not) decrease its effectiveness. Not only that, but the condom broke while my boyfriend and I were having sex just a couple of days before I was due to start my period. I went to a Planned Parenthood clinic and got Plan B and took it only about 36 hours after the fact, taking both at the same time since it works the same as it would if I took them 12 hours apart. I also took the recommended Dramamine to fend off nausea so I would keep it down. I'm still very nervous as I am only 18 years old and not yet out of high school. I haven't really felt many side effects, I'm guessing due to the Dramamine. I have had extreme fatigue, sleeping almost entire days. Also, I've experienced sudden, painful headaches. I'm just dont know if my period being due so soon after the incident is a cause for worry. Is it possible for me to already to be pregnant? It has now been 2 days since I took the EC and I have not gotten my period yet, as I would have it this week if it weren't for the situation. Is it likely for it to be delayed due to the Plan B or should I be worried? I was told to return to the clinic if I haven't had a normal period after about 4 weeks but the anxiety and stress are killing me.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-11-2004
Wed, 05-12-2004 - 4:18pm
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/compose.asp?webtag=iv-bhcontracept&rptid=11944&rptsn=1&redirCnt=1

If you took Plan B within 72 hours after sex, it is effective.

What medication were you taking? You said that you aren't even sure if it interferes with the pill. You may be worrying about nothing...

Not everyone is going to experience side effects.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-12-2004
Wed, 05-12-2004 - 5:01pm
I know it's more effective the earlier to take it but it's still not 100% effective. I had started using a tension headache pain reliever called Zebutal for a week or so beforehand. There's no way of knowing exactly how it affects my birth control pills.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Wed, 05-12-2004 - 9:01pm
Hi cosmogirl86,

Have you talked to your doctor or pharmacist about the combination of drugs you are taking and their possible interactions? If you haven’t done that you should as soon as you can.

Typing Zebutal into the Eckerd Drug Advisor http://www2.eckerd.com/content.asp?content=pharmacy%2Fdrugadvisor&cookie%5Ftest=1 you can see what drugs Zebutal interacts with and what you should be cautious about while taking it. The information on Zebutal says in part:

“Acetaminophen-butalbital-caffeine can stop birth control pills (oral contraceptives) from working properly. Use another method of birth control while you are taking acetaminophen-butalbital-caffeine.”

You certainly were correct in using back-up and taking Plan B when back-up failed. As for your fatigue and sleeping for days - that could be in part from Zebutal or its interaction with something else you are taking.

The Drug Advisor also says that: “Because acetaminophen-butalbital-caffeine can cause drowsiness, other medicines that also cause drowsiness may increase this effect of acetaminophen-butalbital-caffeine. Some other medicines that cause drowsiness are:

•alcohol-containing medicines

•certain antidepressants or tranquilizers

•muscle relaxants

•certain antihistamines used in cold medicines”

After taking EC it is quite possible that your period will be off (either early or late) from your normal schedule If you haven’t done so already you might want to look at the FAQs on the EC site at http://ec.princeton.edu/ You have done everything you can at this point. Hang in there! Let us know how you’re doing, ok?

(((Hugs)))

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-12-2004
Thu, 05-13-2004 - 2:48pm
What I've been most concerned about is the timing of the incident. Are you more likely to become pregnant when you have unprotected sex very close to when you are due to have your period? When in your cycle are you most fertile?

Also, the condoms that we'd been using had spermicidal lubricant but I wasn't sure how effective that would be.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Thu, 05-13-2004 - 8:25pm
The average menstrual cycle is supposed to be 28 days. The problem is none of us are average. You know from experience that your natural cycles generally fall with in some range of days that is normal for you. There are many factors that can throw a natural cycle off: diet, illness, stress etc. The only thing known for certain is that you will have your period about 2 weeks after ovulating and the only way to have a good idea when you ovulate is to chart your basal body temperature and note the rise in temperature that occurs right around ovulation. Typically from about 3 days after ovulation until your period begins you should not be fertile. If you were cycling naturally and if you had IC several days before your period began than you should be safe.

If you were cycling naturally and assuming an average 28 day cycle you should ovulate about 2 weeks prior to your period or about day 14 of your cycle. Typically as ovulation approaches fertile cervical mucus is produced a few days ahead of ovulation. Without FCM sperm die within a few hours in the acidic environment of the vagina. If sperm reach FCM they can live for about 5 days. An egg is viable for 24 hours or perhaps as long as 48 hours so there is a window of a few days mid cycle where you are fertile

Because you are on the pill you shouldn’t be ovulating at all if your pills are effective. The pill-period that you get during your placebo week is withdrawal bleeding because you stopped the hormones (not because it is 2 weeks after ovulation) so you can’t look at this IC event in the context of a natural 28 day cycle. If you did ovulate because of the interaction of you other medicine we have no way of knowing when that might have occurred. Taking EC added a large amount of progestin to the other hormones in your body and that can affect the onset of your pill-period. You know from reading the Q&As on the EC website that after taking EC there is a good possibility that your period will be +/-3 days of your usual time but could be earlier or later.

If you want to know more about your menstrual cycle a super book on the subject is Toni Weschler’s Taking Charge of Your Fertility.

I really think you don’t have much to worry about. Try to relax if you can – I know it is easier said than done – but worry will just add more stress. The spermicide that comes with condoms isn’t very good but it’s probably better than not using any at all. I’ll bet that Aunt Flow shows up any day now. Let us know how you’re doing, ok?

(((Hugs)))

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-12-2004
Sun, 05-16-2004 - 9:55am
Another question here. I took EC during the off week of my birth control when I should've had my period so I didn't get it that week. Ordinarily I would be starting a new pill pack but should I instead discontinue taking my birth control pills until I do get a normal period?
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Sun, 05-16-2004 - 10:48am
If I were you I would comntinue my pills on your regular schedule. Make sure you go no more than 7 24-hour days between active pills to retain your protection.

Good luck

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-16-2004
Sun, 05-16-2004 - 10:41pm
I took this once and had extreme fatigue, nausea, and breakouts.

But I did not end up being pregnant.

My period came about 4 days early.

I don't think you will be pregnant.


Best wishes.