Antibiotics and the pill?????????

Question

Hey girls 
I just got prescribed antibiotics as I’m rlly unwell and I know that it can affect your bc pills. Am I only at risk of pregnancy and the pill being less effective during the time I take the pills?
Btw I never miss a pill/take it on time always

Answer

Very few antibiotics actually impact Bc just double check the one your on is ok
Also just use condoms as a back up if you have concern it will give you peace of mind
Though of your that unwell you shouldn’t be have sex until your fully recovered

Answer

Birth control makes you temporarily infertile by manipulating your body’s hormones. Anything that can interfere with the hormones, the hormone actions, or how your body deals with the hormones can affect the protection provided by the birth control hormones. Hormonal birth control (pills, ring, patch, implant, injection) contains estrogen. 
Some antibiotics cause the enzymes in the liver to increase the break-down of estrogens, and thereby decrease the levels of estrogens in the body and thus, the effectiveness of the pills. This can result in unwanted pregnancy.
A second way that antibiotics could interfere with the effectiveness of birth control pills is by reducing the re-circulation of estrogens within the body. Estrogens in birth control pills (for example ethinyl estradiol) are broken-down in the liver by converting it to other chemicals which are then secreted into the intestines. Bacteria in the intestine are able to convert these chemicals back into the active estrogen which is then reabsorbed into the body. This re-circulation is called entero-hepatic cycling. Theoretically, antibiotics can kill the bacteria that convert the inactive chemicals to the active estrogen, and, therefore, may interfere with the effectiveness of birth control pills.
There are no studies that could difinitively prove or disprove these theories about birth control and antibiotics. It is however better to be cautious. Abstain from sex or use condoms while taking antibiotics that are known to interfere with birth control hormones. As a safety precaution, abstain or use condoms while you are taking any antibiotics and keep on doing so until 7 days after the last dose of antibiotics.
Here is a summarized list of known issues:
Antibiotics that definitely affect the efficacy of your birth control
* Rifampin – Brand name Rifadin, Rimactane, IsonaRif, Rifamate, Rifater
Prescribed for TB, normally for months or years at a time
* Griseofulvin – Brand names: Fulvicin P/G, Fulvicin-U-F, Grifulvin V, Gris-PEG, Grisactin, Grisactin Ultra, Griseofulicin
Used to treat skin infections such as jock itch, athlete’s foot, ringworm, fungal infections of the scalp, fingernails, and toenails.
 
Antibiotics that may affect your birth control efficacy:
* Amoxicillin – Brand name Amoxil, Amoxicot, Dispermox, Moxatag, Moxilin, Senox, Sumox, Trimox, Wymox, Amoclan, Augmentin
Used to treat Ulcers, chronic astritis, Pneumonia, Bronchitis, Flu, Gonorrhea
* Ampicillin – Brand name Amficot, Marcillin, Omnipen, Polycillin, Principen, Totacillin
Used to treat infections caused by bacteria such as pneumonia, bronchitis,  ear, lung, skin, and urinary tract infections
* Metronidazole – Brand name Flagyl, Metryl, Protostat
Used to treat bacteria and other microorganisms that cause infections of the reproductive system, gastrointestinal tract, skin, vagina, and other areas of the body.
* Minocycline – Brand name Cleeravue-M, Dynacin, Minocin, Myrac, Solodyn, Vectrin
Used to treat bacterial infections including pneumonia, other respiratory tract infections, acne, infections of skin, genital, and urinary systems. It can also be used to eliminate bacteria from your nose and throat that may cause meningitis
* Nitrofurantoin – Brand name Furadantin, Macrobid, Macrodantin, Nitro Macro
Used to treat urinary tract infections.
* Penicillin – brand name Beepen-VK, PC Pen VK, Pen-Vee K, Truxcillin-VK, V-Cil-K, Veetids
Used to treat certain infections caused by bacteria such as pneumonia, scarlet fever, and ear, skin, and throat infections. It also is used to prevent recurrent rheumatic fever and chorea.
* Sulfamethoxazole/Trimethoprim – Brand names: Proloprim, Trimpex, Bacter-Aid, Bactrim, Cofatrim Fort, Cotrim, Cotrim DS, Septra, Sulfatrim, Uroplus
Used to eliminate bacteria that cause urinary tract infections, in combination with other drugs to treat certain types of pneumonia. Also is used to treat ‘travelers’ diarrhea.
* Tetracycline – brand name Sumycin
Used to treat bacterial infections, pneumonia and other respiratory tract infections, acne, infections of skin, genital and urinary systems, infection that causes stomach ulcers (Helicobacter pylori), Lyme disease, treatment and prevention of anthrax, preventing the growth and spread of bacteria
 
References:
DrugStore.com,  ask your pharmacist – Do antibiotics interact with birth control pills?  http://www.drugstore.com/ask/do-antibiotics-interact-with-birth-control-pills/qxa1091
MedicineNet.com, Doctor’s Responses – http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=17192
PubMed Health, Drugs and Supplements – http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/s/drugs_and_supplements/a/
The Best of Dr Oz – Do Antibiotics Interfere with the Pill? – http://www.oprah.com/health/How-Antibiotics-Affect-Birth-Control-Pills