Antibiotic question! - Birth Control Message Board

Longview · 06-22-2006, 09:03 AM

My doctor put me on Cipro for a Bladder infection. He told me to wait 4 or 5 days after i am done with the antibiotics, to have sex without a back up (im on OTC-LO). But on those 4 or 5 days i will be on placebos and possibly on my period, but my question is as soon as i start a new pill pack will i be back to being protected again ? Or should i wait 7 days?

ace8484 · 06-22-2006, 11:32 AM

Since you can't actually take the 4-5 active pills in a row, you might want to consider using backup until your first week of active pills is over. Or you could skip the placebo week and continue with a new pack and wait just the 5 days. Every doctor/pharmacist might give you a different answer if you asked them. I have heard everything from no backup, 7 days after finishing the antibiotic, to waiting until after the 7th pill in the next pack, to one full month.

A little more info:
Cipro is one of the antibiotics that doesn't change the metabolism of the oral contraception (leading to decreased efficacy). But it may change your intestinal flora, which could decrease absorption of the contraceptive (decreasing efficacy). Since cipro only effects one of these (not both like ampicillin or tetracycline) the pregnancy risk is probably a little lower, but still more than if you were not taking the antibiotic. Since you are on a low dose pill, there may be a smaller margin of error.

omalll · 06-22-2006, 05:00 PM

that happened to me. I waited until I took 7 active pills, just to be safe.

Longview · 06-22-2006, 09:30 PM

Okay well i am thinking of just taking the 7 pills when i start my new pack. I hate these odd situations and u dont know what to do

!!

mayam · 06-23-2006, 12:32 AM

Yes, it would be extra safe to skip the placebo's and just continue with the active pills in the next pack. You will probably not have a period then. Backup whilst taking the Cipro and for 7 days after will cover your contraception well.