Antibiotics and birth control

[Yellow_Lab]

Cross posted in Sexual Health - General and Drug Interactions

I am scheduled to have my wisdom teeth taken out on Friday. There is a chance I'll be prescribed antibiotics (not sure what kind) to help with pain after the surgery.

I'm currently taking Nordette and this week I'm taking the placebo pills. My question is will taking antibiotics during the placebo week effect my birth control schedule (ie since I'm not taking active pills there's nothing for the antibiotics to react with an lessen the effects of) assuming that I stop taking antibiotics prior to starting my new pack of pills on Sunday? How long are antibiotics in your system and able to effect birth control pills?

Thanks for any answers!

[auntchilada]

Every time I am on antibiotics I ask my doctors and pharmacists this and no 2 people have ever told me the same thing. All of them do agree that antibiotics lessen the birth control pill but no one will give me a straight answer about how long. So to be safe I use another form of birth control for 1 month. If you do not want to get pregnant, I would be really careful and use another form for a while.
Also, ask your dentist and pharmacist. Would you post what they say back on this board? I am very interested.

[MamaGirl]

I'd use a condom or spermicide for about a week after the antibiotics.


I got pregnant while taking Ortho Tri-Cyclen and taking Macrobid for a UTI. I ended up miscarrying at 8 weeks (I was still taking the friggin pill.) My doctor said that when a woman gets pregnant on the pill, they were always taking Ortho Tri-Cyclen (based on what she's seen.)

I'm now on Nordette and for some reason only get my period every other month. I need to go back and see what's up with that.

[girlygirly]

I didn't need any meds when I had my wisdom teeth pulled. You mostly feel soreness for a few days. I lived!