Lamisil and bcps

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-19-2004
Lamisil and bcps
3
Tue, 11-16-2004 - 2:25pm

Hello again,

I am just a bucket of sunshine lately. Oh, I called my doc reguarding my freaking out post and he said that as long as the EPT came back negative then I should start my new pill pack today, which I did. Now, here is my other problem. Last night at the derms office I found out that I have a skin fungal infection for which the doctor presribed to me Lamisil pills. I am taking 250mg of it a day. No where in the literature for the pill does it say that it interacts with bcps negatively. Nor was there any warning on the pill container from the pharmacy (there usually is if that is the case) saying that it reduces its effectiveness. Reguardless my bf and I have made the decision to use two means of protection (bcps all the time, and condoms as well) until I get adjusted to the estrostep. After this past scare we cannot see doing anything other than that. My point is (through all of this rambling) how does lamisil effect BCPS!

Thanks,

Christine

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-14-2004
Tue, 11-16-2004 - 3:05pm

Let`s see what I can dig up for you about Lamisil (aka Terbinafine)! :)

RxMed ( http://www.rxmed.com/b.main/b2.pharmaceutical/b2.1.monographs/CPS-%20Monographs/CPS-%20%28General%20Monographs-%20L%29/LAMISIL.html ) says:
"Drug Interactions: Tablets: According to the results from studies undertaken in vitro and in healthy volunteers, terbinafine shows negligible potential to inhibit or induce the clearance of drugs that are metabolized via the cytochrome P450 system (e.g., cyclosporine, tolbutamide or oral contraceptives). Some cases of menstrual irregularities have been reported in patients taking terbinafine concomitantly with oral contraceptives, although the incidence of these disorders remains within the background incidence of patients taking oral contraceptives alone."

Novartis (maker of Lamisil; http://www.pharma.us.novartis.com/product/pi/pdf/Lamisil_tablets.pdf ) says:
"There is no information available from adequate drug-drug ineraction studies with the following classes of drugs: oral contraceptives..."

So, if I were you, I think that using back up is a good idea since it`s not really known if there is an interaction or not. You could call a pharmacist and ask him or her what they know about the situation - they`re great, great resources for all kinds of drug information and really helpful!

Lena

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 11-17-2004 - 7:22am

I've taken Lamisil TWICE, each time for three months. I didn't have any problems with birth control and didn't use backup--in the first case, the drug information at the time didn't call for any caution with oral contraceptives, in the second time my doctor didn't think it was enough to worry about. But they keep changing the warnings for Lamisil, and if they're advising caution.... That's why I chose Lamisil over Sporanox, because Sporanox has more certainty about a reaction. You're also advised to avoid alcohol when you're taking Lamisil because of potential liver problems.

Lamisil didn't work for me. I took it twice for a fungal infection under a toenail that I've had for ELEVEN years, each time I took it just as directed for three months (at $200/month), and it still didn't kill all of the fungus. So now I've resorted to oregano oil both orally and topically and it's actually working. If it's a fungal nail, some people swear by white vinegar too.

Hope that helps!

Judie
Co-cl for Birth Control
Judie Cl for Birth Control 
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-19-2004
Wed, 11-17-2004 - 8:25am

Hello everyone thank you for your advise. Actually I am on the Lamisil for what the doctor says he is 95% sure is a fungal skin infection a/k/a ringworm "ick". Gross I know. I am not sure where or when I got this but after suffering for well over a month I had to do something. My bf and I have decided to use condoms for the time being, not only because of the medication, but also becasue I have yet to get my period after being on Estrostep for 1 cycle. See post "Freaking out need advise". So that is where i am at this point. Thanks for everyones responses!

kpmonarch.