Question about BC and Antibiotics

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-04-2003
Question about BC and Antibiotics
1
Mon, 10-18-2004 - 7:22pm
I'd like to think that i know when to use backup when taking antibiotics, but this one has got me.... In december i will go to get my wisdom teeth out and i am going to make it so the day that i go, i will take my last active pill in the pack that day, then go on to my sugar pills. My question is since they will be giving me a high-dose of antibiotics (i think it is amoxicillin sp?) for 5 days. Do i need to use backup even though i am on my sugar pills? I'd think i'd need to use backup during my first week of starting up a new pack, but the sugar pill days kind of screw me up... I'm even concidering moving the pills up a day so that i am not taking antibiotics on the same day as an active pill. So if anyone can clarify what i should do, that would be great. I do have some time till it actually happens. I just need to know if it will be worth it to skip a period in order to be on my sugar week while this procedure. (if i weren't to take it back to back one month then the procedure would fall in them middle of the pack).

Thanks!

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Mon, 10-18-2004 - 10:04pm
Hi dani06wc, welcome back!

What I did if I was taking antibiotics during my hormone free week was to use back-up while taking my medicine and continue using back-up until I had taken 7 active pills of my next pack. I don't know if my logic is correct, but I figured that if antibiotics interfered with the hormones effectiveness while I was on actives it would also decrease my protection during my hormone free week. I had much rather be safe than sorry and that way always worked well for me. I hope your extractions go well. Let us know how you're doing, ok?

Good luck,

      Jill