Zithromax and Birth Control Pill

[jjjgirl]

I took zithromax for 5 days, and am off now. I have not had sex, but did some stuff with my significant other, and there may have been some of his residue on my vaginal area. I wasn't told if zithromax interfered with orthoticyclen lo. I take the pill always, every day, same time. Can anyone please help and tell me if zithromax interferes with the pill? I know even the chances of getting pregnant from what I explained are small, but still, I worry. Thank you.

[monkeyflower]

No worries. Studies have found an interaction only between rifampin and birth control pills, no others.

[girl522]

I am pretty sure that any time you take any antibiotic it interferes with birth control pills.  You should call your local pharmacy and the pharmacist should be able to tell you specifics.

[punkybear]

Anytime you take an antibiotic you should use a back-up method of birth control.  Just ask my mom- that's how I came into this world :) lol!!!

[cugirl]

Always use backup when on an anitbiotic.

[lmroswell]

What is rifampin?  BTW, I came into this world because my mom actually thought that God would only give her two children (she was a devout Catholic).  After having 4 kids, she finally figured it out and went on the pill!  True story!

[monkeyflower]

Rifampin is an antibiotic used for TB.

It's long been thought that antibiotics did affect birth control effectiveness. However, newer and better studies have shown that there really isn't a connection between the two (except for rifampin). Apparently, statistically speaking the pregnancies that occured while using antibiotics, traditionally attributed to antibiotic interference, were likely due to 1. the pill isn't 100% effective, and 2. many women don't take it correctly. However, if it makes you feel better to use backup, by all means do so :-) And if you are taking a low dose pill, you may want to do so anyway, just as a CYA.

In the original poster's case, she is at so little risk of pregnancy from what she describes that it's really a moot point.