The Patch (Or birth control generally) & Antibiotics

[pirin.livejournal.com]

I know that antibiotics can highly affect the effectiveness of birth control (I'm currently on the patch). How long should I be using backup after I'm off my antibiotics? I just want to see what you girlies have to say and I'll consult the Ortho Evra people soon as well. I mean, generally, we use condoms more than not but there is that occasion where we don't.

Any input would be nice! Comments, input, experiences. I'd like it learn more.

Comments

[zombie-attaackk.livejournal.com]

i'd say: a week after your done! thats the advice i got here when i asked a month or so ago.

[aechei.livejournal.com]

new studies have shown that antibiotics are not an issue with non-oral bc (absorption in the intestine is the issue, and since evra doesnt absorb through the intestines, its not a problem). so you can just not worry at all! pubmed will show you some articles if you run a quick search.

[pirin.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I asked my physician and she never mentioned any of that. She just suggested that I'd wait a week after. But I will check that out!

[adina77.livejournal.com]

i actually asked about this very question and I was told to still use extra protection while on the antibiotics.

[kaelstra.livejournal.com]

It's probably just the doctor being extra cautious.

[smallstar.livejournal.com]

I just did a pubmed search for:
evra antibiotic
and came up with nothing. What search terms are you using? Or could you just paste a link to the studies you're referring to?

[aechei.livejournal.com]

on the nuvaring, but the premise applies:
Background: Two pharmacokinetic studies were performed to investigate whether there is any interaction between etonogestrel or ethinylestradiol released from the combined contraceptive vaginal ring NuvaRing^® and concomitant treatment with orally administered amoxicillin or doxycycline. Methods: In one study, healthy women were randomised to receive either NuvaRing^® alone for 21 days or NuvaRing^® for 21 days plus amoxicillin on days 1–10. After a 7-day ring-free washout period, women were crossed over to the alternate regimen for a further 21-day treatment period. The other study used an identical design except that women received doxycycline instead of amoxicillin. The amoxicillin study measured serum etonogestrel and ethinylestradiol levels and area under the serum concentration-time curve (AUC) values over the initial 12 hours on days 1 (AUC₁₂) and 10 (AUC_216–228) and the whole of days 1–11 (AUC₂₄₀) and 1–22 (AUC₅₀₄). The doxycycline study measured AUC values over the initial 24 hours on days 1 (AUC₂₄) and 10 (AUC_216–240) and the whole of days 1–11 (AUC₂₄₀) and 1–22 (AUC₅₀₄). Results: No differences in etonogestrel or ethinylestradiol serum concentrations were observed between subjects using NuvaRing^® alone versus those receiving the ring plus either of the antibiotics. Calculation of etonogestrel and ethinylestradiol interaction/control ratios confirmed the absence of pharmacokinetic interactions. Conclusion: The results from these studies demonstrate the absence of pharmacokinetic interactions between etonogestrel and ethinylestradiol released from NuvaRing^® and the oral antibiotics amoxicillin and doxycycline, suggesting that contraceptive efficacy would also be unaffected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

and i will keep looking. i know i have read articles on this.
i did also find one that indicated that the risk of interaction with ANY contraceptive was minimal

[smallstar.livejournal.com]

Cool, thanks. I am aware of the general idea that antibiotics don't affect contraceptives nearly as much as people think they do - I've written a fairly long blurb (http://community.livejournal.com/birthcontrol/1928960.html) on the topic myself. :)

[aechei.livejournal.com]

i can't find it again, im sorry. i should bookmark these things when i find them so i can quote them later.

[aechei.livejournal.com]

http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic2/orthoevra_ad.htm

The proposed mechanism of interaction of antibiotics is different from that of liver enzyme-inducing drugs. Literature suggests possible interactions with the concomitant use of hormonal contraceptives and ampicillin or tetracycline. In a pharmacokinetic drug interaction study, oral administration of tetracycline HCl, 500 mg q.i.d. for 3 days prior to and 7 days during wear of ORTHO EVRAÒ did not significantly affect the pharmacokinetics of norelgestromin or EE.

[ladyleo.livejournal.com]

Backup for at least a week. ( and I do this even with the new research, as there is always the possibility)

[pirin.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I was just about to respond again above. I would wait the week regardless of the new research. . .just to be safe!

[adina77.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure what the exact time is. I was on amoxicillin and once I was through with it, I was back to where I was before hand. And I am still not prego :-). But to be safe a week sounds good.

[pirin.livejournal.com]

Yeah I'm on Amoxicillin right now! But I am gonna take that precaution, haha.

[kaelstra.livejournal.com]

Antibotics don't effect the Patch like the do the Pill. You're fine like you are. The insert on my Ortho Evra says that antibotics don't effect the Patch, listing this as a plus for it.

[pirin.livejournal.com]

Well, when I was reading my insert, it was the whole "some antibiotics" effect the patch. But the insert's been updated, yes?

[blairie.livejournal.com]

I just went through this. I started my new month of patches and then a round of antibiotics a day or two later. Then I had unprotected sex TWICE that week. (and a couple of times since!)

I was relieved when my period came exactly on time this week.


I'd read the studies and the articles, but wasn't sure. I almost got EC 'cause I was worried but I didn't have the time to go deal with it. :(

[pirin.livejournal.com]

:(! oh no. Yeah, sometimes I can be the paranoid type.

Thanks for sharing!