To date, the only antibiotic proven to impact birth control pills is rifampin. Your doctor may change your treatment plan if you also use: It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. All Rights Reserved. tell your doctor if you are taking or using hormonal contraceptives (birth control pills, patches, rings, implants, and injections). We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. The effects of the interaction may last for several weeks after you stop taking your rifamycin medicine.Talk to your healthcare professional (e.g. Nope! Unfortunately, these negative interactions are a two-way street, meaning they weaken the effects of birth control and birth control weakens their effects too. Tell the laboratory staff that you use rifampin.Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Rifampin injection is given as an infusion into a vein.A healthcare provider will give you rifampin injection. Now, it’s impossible with science to prove a negative. © Copyright 2020 Meredith Corporation. Can Antibiotics Make Your Birth Control Less Effective? This alteration may result in changes in behavior and who we are attracted to. It may increase your risk of liver damage.Avoid wearing contact lenses. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Version: 7.01.The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records. Rifampin lowers the effectiveness by decreasing the birth control hormone levels (ethinyl estradiol and progestin) in women taking oral contraceptives. It is not associated with a decrease in birth control effectiveness. This is why you should be cautious about taking birth control with rifamycin antibiotics. And since your doctor may recommend you take rifampin for To prevent unwanted pregnancy, Dr. Sophocles recommends using backup contraception the entire time you’re on rifampin or rifabutin and the first few days you’re off the antibiotic, while Dr. Ross suggests sticking to it for up to a month afterward. Or, of course, you can ask your doctor if you should change the way you take your contraception when you're being prescribed the antibiotic.Exactly how long an antibiotic can affect birth control depends on the amount of time you’re taking it, says Dr. Ross. This copyrighted material has been downloaded from a licensed data provider and is not for distribution, except as may be authorized by the applicable terms of use.Things to remember when you fill your prescription.WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Rifampin may reduce the blood levels and effects of the hormones found in birth control. Would you like to go to the Nigeria website? Other medicines for treating seizures and nerve pain, like oxcarbazepine, carbamazepine, phenytoin, and topiramate, are also known to make birth control less effective. Metabolism and Recirculation of Oral Contraceptives ... it would be wise to use another form of birth control while taking amoxicillin and for 1 week afterwards. Shape may receive compensation when you click through and purchase from links contained on However, soft contact lenses may be permanently stained if you wear them while using rifampin.Use this medicine for the full prescribed length of time. By Use the medicine exactly as directed.Rifampin oral is taken by mouth. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.Many drugs can affect rifampin, and some drugs should not be used at the same time. this website. This side effect is usually not harmful. However, using rifampin during the last few weeks of pregnancy may cause bleeding in the mother or the newborn baby. The hormone levels are needed to prevent ovulation. Rifampin doesn't just affect combined oral contraceptives (birth control pills that contain both estrogen and progestin); rifampin can also make progestin-only pills (sometimes called the "minipill"), implant, patch, and vaginal ring less effective at preventing pregnancy, according to the U.K. NHS. Nope! For women who take rifampin, a nonhormonal method of birth control, for example, the diaphragm, copper IUD or condom, is recommended. Rifampin may discolor your tears, which could permanently stain soft contact lenses.flu symptoms--fever, chills, body aches, headache, weakness, nausea, vomiting; orliver problems--upper stomach pain, tiredness, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).red discoloration of your teeth, sweat, urine, saliva, and tears;confusion, changes in behavior, trouble concentrating.This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur.