Re: R. Daniel Braun
From: R. Daniel Braun, MD (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Wed, 21 May 2003 19:09:41 -0500 (CDT)
At Wed, 21 May 2003, Anon wrote:
>
>At Wed, 21 May 2003, Just wrote:
>>
>>>For the fortieth time on this Forum, Rifampin is the only antibiotic
>>>which interferes with OCP effectiveness.
>>
>>Why in this case do I get stark warnings about pill effectiveness from
>>my doctors when I'm prescribed penicillin and other antibiotics?
They may not have read the multiple studies done which have demonstrated
that what we theoretically feared would happen, doesn't happen in
reality.
Taking
>>other antibiotics whilst on the pill has caused me breakthrough bleeding
>>before so surely they're interfering somehow?
>>
>>I've been told that they can interfere with your digestive bacteria etc.
>>and so you may not digest the pill properly.
>
>Actually Dr. Braun indicated the risk is less than 1%. Oral
>contraception itself is not 100% effective. The likelihood of
>interference from antiobiotic use with BCP's is as likely as it is that
>the BCP's alone would be ineffective and typically we don't worry about
>the effectiveness of our BCP's. However, rifampin (used in cases of TB)
>has a much higher likelihood of decreasing effectiveness of
>contraceptives.
>
>As far as digestive track bacteria. We have a natural bacterial flora
>in our intestines (in the vagina also)and when we take antibiotics that
>flora is disrupted somewhat by the basic action of antibiotics. It
>would not have anything to do with how well you digest the medication.
>As an example, the disruption of the natural bacterial flora is why many
>women have a vaginal yeast infection after a round of antibiotics.
>
>Hope this helps.
>
>--
>KO,RN
>
--
R.Daniel Braun, MD FACOG FOG
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