Ortho Cyclen and Zithromax interaction - Birth Control Message Board

heyteach · 06-21-2005, 05:28 PM

It appears that similar questions have been asked before so I apologize for the repeat but I am really confused. I have been on OC for 2 years, pretty much trouble free but have recently had to take Zithromax, an antibiotic (2 pills the first day, followed by one pill per day the next 4 days to equal the strength of a 10 day course of antibiotics) for a throat infection. After the initial dose of Zithromax, (2 pills, day 1) I started to spot. 3 days later, more-than-spotting and have been advised to just finish my current OC pack (on day 17) but I am wondering if I am going to have a 2 week-long period? If I am more-than-spotting now, will I get my full blown period "on schedule" next week too? I expected some interference from the antibiotics but this blows

Thanks for any info/advice you may have

SMassmann · 06-22-2005, 11:41 AM

this can definitely happen when taking oc & antibiotics b/c the antibiotics fight your oc! just be careful that you don't get pregnant! hope this helped. like i said it is common. you could bleed off & on for probaly a month...at least that is what i was told.

GLSheridan · 06-22-2005, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMassmann

this can definitely happen when taking oc & antibiotics b/c the antibiotics fight your oc! just be careful that you don't get pregnant! hope this helped. like i said it is common. you could bleed off & on for probaly a month...at least that is what i was told.

Antibiotics do not "fight" the oral contraceptive. In fact, this particular antibiotic has no affects on the pill at all. They can be safely taken together without risk of pregnancy.

Anyway, illness can cause in irregular period. As I stated in another post of yours, chances are that you'll continue to spot until your period, and then have a regular (perhaps lighter) period. There's nothing you can do except wait it out.

SMassmann · 06-23-2005, 01:45 PM

I am just relaying what my doctor has told me GLSheridan. Actually I do know someone that has had a interaction from antibiotics & she did end up pregnant.
My doc told me when i was on zithromax to use a back up method for a month...
He said it doesn't happen alot but it does happen.
Anyway! Good Luck HEYTEACH!

Daisies4monkeys · 06-23-2005, 01:58 PM

The studies that prove that antibiotics do not effect the pill are VERY new. Many doctors haven't had the chance to read them yet. Only the ones who keep up on gynecological news would have already heard.

By all means, listen to your doctor, but antibiotics do NOT effect the pill. People who end up pregnant when taking the pill and who also took antibiotics were just the unlucky 1-3/1000 women who get pregnant while taking the pill perfectly, or else they missed a pill or took it late, etc.