Pills and some other contraceptives (patches, spirals, injections) usually contain the female sex hormones estrogen and progestin. They prevent ovulation and pregnancy. But some medications prevent hormones from doing their job. If they are taken simultaneously with COCs, the effect of the contraceptive may decrease, and in some cases more serious consequences for the woman's health occur.
WHAT DRUGS SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN WITH HORMONAL CONTRACEPTIVES
- Antibiotics and OK
A course of antibiotics may be necessary for infections caused by bacteria (pneumonia, sinusitis, acne, urinary tract infections, etc.). In most cases, antibiotic drugs can be combined with OCs. The only antibiotic that interacts negatively with hormonal contraceptives is rifampin(Rifadin, Rifadin). This drug is used to treat tuberculosis and may cause irregular periods.
Rifampin reduces the effectiveness of hormones by reducing the effects of ethinyl estradiol and progestin in women taking oral contraceptives. Rifampin can also reduce the effectiveness of the transdermal contraceptive patch (Ortho Evra and others) and the vaginal ring (NuvaRing and others), in which case an additional method of contraception will have to be used.
It used to be thought that any antibiotics could reduce the effectiveness of COCs. However latest research showed that they do not affect the use of oral contraceptives. The most popular antibiotics - ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, clarithromycin, doxycycline, metronidazole, ofloxacin, roxithromycin, temafloxacin, tetracycline - can be used in conjunction with COCs.
- HIV drugs and hormones
Some drugs that are prescribed for HIV can interfere with the normal functioning of the OC. These include Darunavir(Prezista) Efavirenz(Sustiva) Lopinavir / Ritonavir(Kaletra), Nevirapine(Viramun). To adjust therapy or prescribe another contraceptive, you need to consult a doctor.
- Antifungal drugs
Griseofulvin(Griseofulvin, Gris-PEG) is used to treat skin infections such as athlete's foot (athlete's foot) and itchy groin. Ketoconazole(Nizoral et al.) are used mainly when other antifungal drugs are not available or do not help. Scientists believe that these drugs may interfere with the effectiveness of birth control pills (low risk).
- Anti-seizure drugs and hormonal pills for women
Some of the anticonvulsants disrupt the hormonal balance, making birth control pills less effective. Such drugs include Carbamazepine(Carbatrol, Epitol, Equitro, Tegretol), Felbamate(Felbatol), Oxcarbazepine(trileptal), Phenobarbital(Luminal) Phenytoin(Dilantin, Phenytek), primidon(Mysoline) Topiramate(Topamax).
- Analeptics for hormonal contraception
Modafinil(Provigil) is a stimulant commonly used to treat symptoms of a sleep disorder such as narcolepsy and sleep apnea. Studies show that this drug reduces the effectiveness of OCs. Use a different method of contraception while you are taking modafinil (Provigil) and for one month after stopping it.
- Painkillers
Over-the-counter pain relievers may work worse when a woman is on birth control pills.
In addition, in the instructions for analgin indicated that oral contraceptives violate its metabolism in the liver, due to which the toxicity of analgin increases.
- Drugs to lower blood pressure
Some medicines for high blood pressure (for example, cyclopentiazide) may also work worse if the woman drinks OK.
- Asthma Remedies
Hormonal birth control pills may increase the side effects and toxicity of certain asthma medications (eg, theophylline).
- Tranquilizers and antidepressants
A side effect of some of these drugs is benzodiazepam And imipramine- may also be stronger due to interaction with COC.
- Laxatives
If there is a need to take these drugs, then it is better to do this in advance or at least 2 hours after taking OK, so that oral contraceptives have time to digest.
- Iron
When taking birth control pills, it is usually not recommended to drink iron. Against the background of OK, women most often experience scanty bleeding, and the level of iron in the blood remains normal.
If you experience heavy bleeding while taking COCs and/or suspect that you have iron deficiency anemia, take tests and consult a doctor.
Excess iron can be toxic to the body, causing indigestion, abdominal pain, vomiting, and darkening of the skin.
- Vitamin C
It is undesirable to combine the reception of OK with ascorbic acid. However, at the same time, due to hormonal pills, it can occur. If you want to drink vitamins during the course of hormones, do it at different times (with an interval of several hours between taking OK and vitamins).
FOOD AND DRINKS THAT DO NOT COMBINE WITH HORMONAL PILLS
- Alcohol
Usually alcohol does not affect OC in any way. However, if alcohol causes vomiting and less than 2 hours have passed since taking hormones, the effectiveness of COCs may be reduced. If this happens, take another tablet as soon as possible and call your doctor right away.
- Grapefruit
Chemicals in grapefruit (fruit and juice) interfere with the CYP3A4 enzyme in the intestines from absorbing certain medications. This leads to the fact that the drug does not work as it should, and the side effects of the drug increase. The furanocoumarins found in grapefruit block the CYP3A4 enzymes responsible for breaking down estrogen. When grapefruit is consumed along with OCs, blood estrogen levels may rise, leading to the risk of new or stronger side effects such as nausea, breast tenderness, uterine bleeding.
One study found that grapefruit juice did significantly increase peak blood levels of 17 alpha-ethinyl estradiol (up to 137%).
Grapefruit can negatively interact not only with oral contraceptives, but also with other drugs:
- fexofenadine (fexofenadine, Allegra), which is used to treat allergies
- buspirone (Buspar) and sertraline (Zoloft) to treat depression and anxiety;
- sildenafil (Viagra) - a male drug for the treatment of erectile dysfunction;
- nifedipine (Procardia), nimodipine (Nimotop), and nisoldipine (Sular), which are used to treat high blood pressure;
- atorvastatin (Lipitor), lovastatin (Mevacor), and simvastatin (Zocor) to treat high cholesterol;
- saquinavir (Invirase), which is used to treat HIV infection
- erythromycin, primaquine, and quinine, which are used to treat infections;
- amiodarone (Cordarone), which is used to treat irregular heart rhythms
- cyclosporine and tacrolimus (Prograf) are used to prevent rejection in organ transplants.
In addition to grapefruit, Seville oranges (often used in marmalade), pomelo, lime, tangelo, or tangelo (tangerine crossed with grapefruit) may not go well with oral contraceptives.
CYP450 enzymes found in the intestines and liver can remain blocked after eating grapefruit for up to 24 hours or longer. So even if you eat fruit or drink grapefruit juice separately from OK (for example, after a few hours), it can still lead to higher estrogen levels. Daily use of grapefruit can lead to significant, unpredictable effects. Even medicines that are taken only once a day can cause side effects due to the influence of grapefruit enzymes.
If your preparation does not combine with grapefruit, it is better not to use this product at all - neither in the form of juice, nor the form of fruit.
Most other fruits and foods, including orange and cranberry juice, can be eaten and drunk while on COCs. They do not interact with hormone pills.
Other Side Effects of Grapefruit
Combining estrogen with large amounts of grapefruit can, in rare cases, lead to more serious side effects. So, a case is known when a woman who took COCs (drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol) included grapefruit in her daily weight loss diet. After three days of this diet (about one grapefruit each morning), she developed acute venous thrombosis (a blood clot in a deep leg vein). Doctors partly attributed this to the interaction of grapefruit with birth control pills.
In addition, grapefruit can affect the level of estrogen in the blood of a woman, even if she does not take OK. Eight hours after eating the fruit, estrone-3-sulphate rises by 26% from baseline.
HERBAL MEDICINAL SUPPLEMENTS WITH OK
Some dietary supplements and herbal preparations also do not mix well with birth control pills.
- St. John's wort
Some people use it to treat mild to moderate depression and sleep disorders. The study shows that women who took birth control pills and St. John's wort at the same time had higher rates of breakthrough bleeding. This herb can interfere with the metabolism of estrogen from pills by affecting liver enzymes.
- With palmetto
Sometimes girls drink this herb to stop hair loss and reduce hirsutism. It is not recommended to combine with OK.
- Lucerne (Alfalfa)
Used for kidney problems bladder. Before taking it is necessary to consult a doctor.
- Garlic
Garlic tablets sometimes help lower blood pressure, high cholesterol, and are also taken for other heart and blood conditions. Before a joint reception with OK, you need to consult a doctor.
Flaxseed is used for digestive problems (severe constipation, irritable bowel syndrome). When taken regularly in high amounts, flax can also affect hormone levels.
Other natural remedies, which can potentially affect hormones (, mint, etc.), can be combined with OK only after consulting a doctor.
Antibiotics are special medicines of natural or synthetic origin, intended for the treatment of various diseases. The active components of pharmacological preparations are able to suppress the rapid growth of living microorganisms and cells. Along with the therapeutic effect, antibacterial drugs have a negative effect on the intestinal microflora and inhibit the immune system. Therefore, you need to take antibiotics only on prescription from your doctor.
All antibiotics are classified into two groups, depending on the effect on harmful microorganisms:
Bactericidal. The action of the drug is based on the destruction of the infection.
Bacteriostatic. The active substance causes a violation of the cellular chain of the pathogen, which makes it unable to reproduce and gradually dies.
Once in the body, the antibiotic is carried along with the blood to all organs and systems. Each drug, depending on the active ingredients included in the composition, can accumulate in certain amounts in one organ. Thus, the concentration of ampicillin in the inner cavity of the middle ear is higher than that of the penicillin group. Accordingly, the infectious agent will be destroyed faster.
However, the danger to humans is the fact that many types of antibacterial drugs are aimed at destroying not only one pathogen, but entire groups in which there are not only pathogens, but also beneficial microorganisms.
An imbalance leads to the multiplication of a fungal infection that is resistant to almost all known antibiotics. The patient's immunity is suppressed, allergic reactions develop, and the toxic effect on the body increases. In addition, antibacterial agents can change the composition of the blood.
How to find out if antibiotics affect a biochemical blood test? First of all, take a hematological analysis and wait for the results, which will show the clinical picture.
Before prescribing a course of treatment, the doctor will conduct all the necessary studies, write out a referral for a biochemical blood test. This is necessary in order to establish the underlying cause of the disease. Indeed, with a viral infection, antibiotics do not help, on the contrary, this approach to treatment is fraught with many complications. In the fight against infection of bacterial origin, broad-spectrum antibiotics are used. Specific changes in the hematological analysis will help the therapist to establish the correct diagnosis and prescribe effective treatment.
What is a bacteriological blood culture?
The purpose of bacteriological culture is to determine the number of pathogens in the blood. It is impossible to exclude or confirm the presence of bacteremia under a microscope. To obtain an accurate result, it is necessary to grow (seeding) bacteria in a nutrient medium. The contents are then closely examined under a microscope to identify a dangerous infection. When the causative agent is identified, specialists proceed to tests that reveal the sensitivity of the bacterium to various antibacterial drugs. This allows you to effectively suppress the growth and reproduction of pathogens.
Since the action of pharmacological agents affects the body in different ways, it is important to know if antibiotics affect the blood test. Hematopoiesis is a continuous process. Dividing young cells are more susceptible to the negative effects of antibacterial drugs. The toxic effect of drugs changes the composition of the blood. Side effects develop that destroy tissues and organs.
The effect of antibiotics on blood tests has long been proven by numerous studies. While taking these drugs, the following changes in hematological parameters most often occur:
Aminopenicillins. Taking drugs from this group often causes the formation of eosinophilia, neutropenia. Prothrombin time also increases, a positive Coombs reaction is observed.
Cephalosporins. This category of drugs is systematized by 4 generations. The consequences of taking antibacterial agents of the cephalosporin group include eosinophilia, neutropenia, decreased hemoglobin, and anemia.
Polymyxins. A patient taking Polymyxin-M-sulfate may develop thrombocytopenia, hypocalcemia, hypokalemia.
Ansamacrolides. May affect the increase in liver transaminase activity.
Azalides. Their toxic effect entails an increase in the activity of liver enzymes.
Penicillins. Stimulation of a false positive Coombs test, eosinophilia, neuropenia.
Antipseudomonal penicillins. Here, a decrease in platelet aggregation, hyponatremia, eosinophilia, and an increase in bleeding time can be found.
Antistaphylococcal penicillins. Drugs from this group increase the activity of hepatic transaminases, lead to neutropenia and a false positive Coombs test.
Glycopeptides. With improper administration of the drug, the “red man syndrome” develops due to the release of a large number histamine.
Chloramphenicols. In some cases, taking chloramphenicol leads to the formation of leukopenia, reticulocytopenia.
Aminoglycosides. Kanamycin, Gentamicin and Streptomycin provoke thrombocytopenia, an increase in the concentration of hepatic transaminases.
Do antibiotics affect the complete blood count when the pathological condition progresses? The answer is positive. In some situations, the lack of control over blood parameters leads to the fact that functional changes take a morphological form. The complexity of the structure of antibacterial agents, due to the active substances included in the composition, determines the development of a positive result and side effects. For this reason, it is impossible to self-medicate.
Can I take medication before taking a blood test?
Many patients, including those involved in self-medication, simply do not know whether taking antibiotics affects the blood test. Meanwhile, such a procedure has several rules, ignorance of which leads to the detection of various deviations from the norm. So, you can not take any kind of medicine 24 hours before donating blood for biochemical analysis. You can deviate from the norm only with the permission of the attending physician.
In addition, tests are done on an empty stomach so that indicators such as glucose, cholesterol, bilirubin do not increase. For clinical analysis, you will need to stop eating at least one hour before the procedure. Since the indicators depend on the time of day, this moment must also be taken into account when donating blood for hormones. When blood is taken from a vein, its composition is affected by the physical activity of a person, emotional overstrain.
Equally important is the presence of an infectious agent in the body, the duration of infection and the state of the immune system. If the doctor doubts the results of the tests, he may prescribe a second study.
Blood tests and antibiotics in the presence of chronic diseases
Almost all drugs are excreted by the kidneys. Therefore, even small changes in the operation of this important body sometimes become the cause of increasing intoxication. The tissue and structure of the kidneys are affected by antibiotics from the group of glycosides, the tetracycline group.
If the intake of these medications is accompanied by the parallel use of cytostatics, hormonal drugs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, then the likelihood of kidney damage increases exponentially. A blood test will determine an increase in the number of red blood cells and white blood cells. All this must be taken into account when conducting a biochemical analysis.
When the drug is excreted from the body with bile, problems with the liver and gallbladder may occur, which is fraught with an increase in hepatic transaminases and an increase in toxic effects.
Do antibiotics affect the general blood test if the patient does not have concomitant diseases? Each person is individual, so it is difficult to predict the body's reaction to a particular medication. In any case, blood counts will deviate from the norm, because drug therapy affects all organs and tissues.
General blood test when taking hormones
Can antibiotics affect blood tests while taking hormonal contraceptives? This question is asked by women taking contraceptive medications. Antibacterial therapy changes the composition of the intestinal flora, which is why the body cannot absorb hormones at the same level. Accordingly, blood counts change, the amount of the drug decreases. If another method of contraception is not used, pregnancy may occur.
Blood test for digestive disorders
Treatment with antibacterial agents often leads to diarrhea and other digestive disorders. A variety of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract can impair absorption nutrients and drugs, which is why the infectious pathology will take a chronic form of the course. A blood test in this case will show an increase in the number of leukocytes, a decrease in hemoglobin, and eosinophilia.
Finally
The time for blood diagnostics after completion of antibiotic treatment is set by the doctor on an individual basis, which should take into account the results of the tests and the patient's state of health. In some cases, it will be appropriate to study during the period of taking the drugs. The effectiveness of the treatment course and the action of antibacterial drugs can be checked 2-5 days after taking the last tablet or injection. Antibiotics will not affect the blood test if the test is taken no earlier than 10 days after the completion of therapy.
Important!
Important! The rules are the same, they are written for adults and children, but we give separate comments regarding babies.
- For most studies (for example, a complete blood count), it is recommended to donate blood in the morning, between 8 and 11 am, on an empty stomach (at least 8 hours should elapse between the last meal and blood sampling, you can drink water as usual), the day before studies light dinner with limited fatty foods. For infection tests and emergency investigations, it is acceptable to donate blood 4-6 hours after the last meal. Take blood for analysis in infants, try to time between feedings. But if this does not work out, do not, by all means, do not feed the child before taking the test! It is better for the child to be calm during the blood test than to cry from hunger.
- ATTENTION! Special rules for preparing for a number of tests: strictly on an empty stomach, after 12-14 hours of fasting, you should donate blood for gastrin-17, lipid profile (total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol, triglycerides, lipoprotein (a), apolipo-proten A1, apolipoprotein B); a glucose tolerance test is performed in the morning on an empty stomach after 12-16 hours of fasting.
- On the eve of the study (within 24 hours), exclude alcohol, intense physical exercise, taking medications (as agreed with the doctor).
- 1-2 hours before donating blood, refrain from smoking, do not drink juice, tea, coffee, you can drink non-carbonated water. Eliminate physical stress (running, fast climbing stairs), emotional arousal. It is recommended to rest and calm down 15 minutes before donating blood.
- You should not donate blood for laboratory testing immediately after physiotherapy procedures, instrumental examinations, X-ray and ultrasound examinations, massage and other medical procedures.
- When monitoring laboratory parameters in dynamics, it is recommended to conduct repeated studies under the same conditions - in the same laboratory, donate blood at the same time of day, etc.
- Blood for research should be donated before the start of taking medications or no earlier than 10-14 days after they are discontinued. To evaluate the control of the effectiveness of treatment with any drugs, it is necessary to conduct a study 7-14 days after the last dose of the drug.
Important!
Important! If you are taking medication, be sure to tell your doctor about it.
The general rules apply to all assays, but some studies require special preparation and additional restrictions. It is very important to strictly follow the recommendations below, since only in this case reliable research results will be obtained.
Blood is given in the morning on an empty stomach (or in the afternoon / evening hours, 4-5 hours after the last meal). 1-2 days before the study, exclude foods high in fat from the diet.
General rules for preparing for analysis:
- The last meal is not earlier than 12 hours before the test;
- It is desirable to exclude the intake of medicines, if there are no specific instructions from the attending physician;
- It is necessary to warn the registrars of the KDL "OLIMP" about the drugs taken;
- Morning medication is carried out only after the test;
- Eliminate alcohol intake 1 day before the study and do not smoke 2 hours before the examination, also exclude emotional stress on the eve of the test;
- Arriving at the treatment room, it is not recommended to take tests immediately - you need to rest for 15-20 minutes;
- If it is planned to retake tests, then for maximum reliability it is necessary to take them in the same laboratory at the same time of day.
The main indicators of a woman's hormonal background are the following hormones: estrogens, progesterone, luteonizing hormone (LH), prolactin, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), as well as testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-s).
Estrogens in women are produced by the ovaries and adrenal glands (in a small amount). These hormones are responsible for the development of secondary sexual characteristics in women and, together with progesterone, control the most important processes of the reproductive system.
To conduct a blood test, it should be donated before taking medications or not earlier than 10-14 days after they are canceled. To assess the effectiveness of treatment when using any drugs, it is necessary to conduct a study 7-14 days after the last dose of the drug.
It has been established that physical and emotional stress can have a rather tangible effect on some blood parameters. It can be brisk walking, running, intense climbing stairs. Even a feeling of fear before the procedure for taking blood can affect the result of the analysis. To reduce the negative impact of these factors, before the procedure, it is recommended to rest for 10-15 minutes in the waiting room and calm down.
1. Can I take antibiotics and antihistamines if I donate blood for hormones in 3-4 days?2. if on the last ultrasound (in fact, on the first day of m.c.) they did not reveal that I have polycystic ovaries, then this is a good sign - can we hope that it is not there? Or is it not detected on the 1st day?3. according to the latest analyzes from October 12, Free testosterone - 3.472 (normal 0-4.1 pg / ml) and DHEA sulfate - 3.48 (normal 0.8-2.9 μg / ml) were either at the borderline of the norm or slightly higher, the doctor said that it was still a lot and you need to lower it, otherwise there will be a frozen pregnancy. Are these values really dangerous for pregnancy?
4. In 2 weeks I am going on my honeymoon with my husband and we want to try to conceive a child. If I do not have data on the level of my prolactin and progesterone - is it very dangerous for b?
1.5. Free testosterone. Between the last meal and blood sampling should be at least 8 hours (preferably at least 12 hours). Juice, tea, coffee (especially with sugar) are not allowed. You can drink water.
1.6. Somatotropic hormone. For 3 days before taking blood, it is necessary to exclude sports training. 1 hour before blood sampling - smoking. The study is carried out on an empty stomach (12 hours after the last meal). The patient must be at rest for 30 minutes before taking blood.
1.7. HCG, DHA-S. Special preparation for the study is not required.
1.8. PSA analysis should be carried out before or not earlier than 6 to 7 days after massage or digital rectal examination of the prostate, transrectal ultrasound, biopsy, laser therapy, ergometry, cysto- and colonoscopy, and after any other mechanical effects on the prostate. It is important to consider that PSA levels may rise up to 3 weeks after a biopsy, prostatectomy, or prostate massage. To eliminate errors, the determination of free and total immunoreactive PSA (with the calculation of their ratio) should be carried out by one method and from one blood sample. Subsequent monitoring is preferably carried out using the same method and preferably in the same laboratory.
On the eve of the study, it is recommended to receive a special tube with a probe for collecting biomaterial from the Laboratory Office. For this study, a scraping is taken from the perianal folds (around the anus) by the patient himself. In the morning (without getting out of bed), before carrying out hygiene procedures and the toilet, hold the probe in a circular motion around the anus. Place the probe in a special test tube. Deliver to the laboratory within 3 hours after collection.
Clinical analysis of sputum
Sputum for general clinical examination is recommended to be collected in the morning and on an empty stomach during a coughing fit in a special container. In order to mechanically remove food debris and desquamated epithelium, the oral cavity is sanitized before coughing - brush your teeth, rinse your mouth and throat boiled water. With poorly separated sputum, take expectorants, warm drinks the day before.
Sputum culture
Follow the rules of preparation for collecting sputum for culture. Collect sputum in a sterile container and deliver to the laboratory within 1 hour.
10 days before taking the biomaterial, it is necessary to stop taking medications and medical procedures. Blood give up on an empty stomach. Urine(medium portion) is collected in the morning after sleep. Delivery to the laboratory is carried out on the same day within 2-3 hours. Pap smear for women: material is not taken during menstruation. Pap smear for men: before the study, refrain from urinating for 1.5-2 hours. Taking material for gonorrhea: On the eve of the study, it is forbidden to toilet the external genital organs and douching. For 3-4 hours before the study, refrain from urinating and sexual intercourse. In women, the material is taken before menstruation or 1-2 days after its completion.
Hemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae
The sampling of material from the pharynx is carried out on an empty stomach, or 2 hours after a meal. The analysis is carried out before the start of antibiotic therapy or not earlier than 14 days after its completion.
If you are not yet the owner discount card, then you can register for an online discount program and get a card in any treatment room.
According to kapitano.ru
Antibiotics- substances that help to quickly suppress the activity of bacteria inside the body. They are assigned to every 3 patients. Of course, such drugs are highly effective, but they are often prescribed indiscriminately without serious indications for such therapy.
This leads to a decrease in immune abilities, which causes an exacerbation of serious diseases. To prevent such consequences, it is imperative to take a blood test after such drug therapy.
Every doctor can easily tell you if antibiotics affect the blood test. These powerful substances can easily cause changes in almost any system in the body.
It is very important to be checked after such therapy and, if necessary, start taking maintenance drugs.
Experts believe that antibiotics affect the blood as follows:
- Levomecithin- reduces the concentration of leukocytes.
- Streptomycin- reduces the number of red blood cells, increases hepatic transaminases.
- Glycopeptides- increase the level of histamine.
- Penicillin- increases hepatic transaminases, eosinophils, does not provide accurate information regarding the antiglobulin test.
- Cephalosporins- reduce the level of hemoglobin, leukocytes, eosinophils.
- Polymyxin- reduces potassium, calcium and platelets.
- Aminopenicillins- reduce leukocytes, platelets, eosinophils, increase the rate of blood clotting, do not give accurate results of the antiglobulin test.
Blood test after antibiotics
Due to the fact that antibiotics adversely affect the state of the body, they are sold in most cases by prescription. Many people who decide on self-treatment are unaware of whether taking antibiotics affects the blood test or not.
Also, tests after taking antibiotics must be taken on an empty stomach. Otherwise, the concentration of cholesterol, glucose, and bilirubin will increase significantly in the body.
If you are sent to a clinical study, you can reduce your fasting time to 1 hour. When examining blood for hormones, it is necessary to take into account the time of sampling, as this also affects the results.
Before entering the laboratory, sit in front of the office for 15 minutes to relieve emotional and physical stress.
To get the most fair tests after antibiotic therapy, you must wait a few days. During this time, the active substances will have time to be excreted from the body, and its work will return to normal.
In most cases, doctors send their patients to such studies to determine how effective the therapy was. The consequences of such treatment are rarely thought about.
The composition of the blood placenta is affected by all drugs, not just antibiotics. Even pills based on herbal ingredients can affect the result.
For this reason, the day before the study, it is necessary to abandon all medicines. If you can't do this, be sure to inform the specialist about it.
Antibiotics are drugs that, in some cases, cannot be replaced with other drugs. Only they can defeat pathogenic bacteria and other microorganisms.
However, they are not always able to benefit the body. If taken uncontrolled, they will cause serious harm: they will provoke the development of pathologies of the liver, kidneys, cardiovascular system, and reduce immune abilities.
Antibiotics kill beneficial cells in the body, provoking the reproduction of pathogenic ones. It is very important to follow the recommendations given by the attending physician.
For a more detailed study of the state of the body, it is necessary to take a blood test twice: on day 5 to assess the effectiveness of therapy, on day 14 to determine the consequences of such treatment.
Based on materials from 1analiz.ru
The delivery of blood and urine tests is a necessity for diagnosing the disease and monitoring the effectiveness of therapy. Many people know that there are certain restrictions that must be observed before biomaterial sampling. Does antibiotics count as a ban? Is it possible to drink medicines before donating plasma, and what effect of antibiotics on a blood test should be taken into account when deciphering the result?
All antibacterial drugs work on the same principle. They inhibit the activity of bacteria and help in the treatment of bacterial infections. Often, antibiotics are also prescribed for viral diseases, as a prevention of the addition of bacterial infection. However, as practice has shown, such a safety net is inappropriate, because in the absence of bacteria, drugs only harm our body.
Most often, doctors prescribe broad-spectrum antibiotics, what does this mean? This means that the drug is able to destroy not one type of bacteria, but entire groups. However, along with pathogens, these drugs destroy the beneficial bacteria that live in our body.
There are many side effects of antibiotics, including:
- Dysbacteriosis.
- Allergic reactions.
- Decreased immunity.
- Depression of the nervous system.
- Exacerbation of fungal diseases.
- Destruction of liver cells.
- Loss of orientation, hallucinations, respiratory depression.
- Toxic poisoning of the body.
Moreover, as a result of many years of research, it was revealed that taking antibiotics can change the composition of the blood. Thus, the risk that antibiotics will affect the composition of the blood undoubtedly exists, and before you go to donate biomaterial, you must inform the doctor that you are taking this group of drugs.
First of all, a blood test must be taken before the patient is prescribed treatment. This is the first diagnostic step that allows you to determine the nature of the disease. If the therapist is certain of a bacterial infection, a course of antibiotics will be prescribed. If the analysis shows a viral disease, antibiotics cannot be prescribed. For this reason, it is completely unacceptable to take drugs from the antibiotic group on your own.
Only a doctor can determine the appropriateness of taking a particular drug.
Also, a blood test may be prescribed if antibiotic therapy does not bring the desired result. In this case, a blood test is performed to determine which bacterium caused the disease and why it is not sensitive to the prescribed antibiotic. This analysis is called bacteriological culture. With its help, doctors select exactly the antibiotic to which a specific pathogen is sensitive.
To understand whether antibiotics affect the blood test, consider the main changes in the composition of the plasma after taking various drugs. Scientists have proven that each of the groups of antibacterial drugs can have its own effect on blood composition:
- Streptomycin - affects the increase in hepatic transaminases, reduces the number of red blood cells.
- Levomecithin - reduces the level of leukocytes.
- Glycopeptides - can provoke a high level of histamine.
- Penicillin - increases the level of eosinophils, hepatic transaminases, distorts the results of the antiglobulin test.
- Polymyxin - lowers the level of platelets, serum calcium and potassium.
- Cephalosporins - can provoke a decrease in hemoglobin, eosinophils, leukocytes.
- Aminopenicillins - distort the results of the antiglobulin test, reduce the number of leukocytes, eosinophils, platelets, increase blood clotting time.
If a doctor prescribed a blood test when taking antibiotics, then it is simply necessary to undergo a study. Most often, the question of whether taking antibiotics affects the blood test is asked by people who self-medicate. They just don't know how medication will affect their analysis. Doctors do not get tired of warning that it is impossible to take medicines without a doctor's prescription, but our people heal themselves and often cripples themselves with this treatment.
If you take a blood test after taking antibiotics and do not tell the doctor that you have been taking medication, you can find a lot of diseases, from banal anemia to chronic pathologies of internal organs. And the point is not that you have a whole bunch of diseases, your blood composition will simply change, and the doctor, based on these changes, can make a false diagnosis.
First of all, with any ailments, high body temperature, general weakness, pain and other manifestations of the disease, you should consult a doctor. Based on your complaints, the therapist can make a preliminary diagnosis, and in order to confirm it, he will prescribe a blood test. Before donating blood, tell your doctor if you have taken any medications. After the patient has passed the analysis, a bacteriological culture is performed and the causative agent of the disease is detected. Based on these data, the doctor should prescribe a narrow-spectrum antibiotic that will be effective against this particular pathogen.
However, in practice, everything happens in a completely different scenario. There are even doctors who prescribe antibiotics for obviously viral diseases. It is better to refuse the services of such doctors immediately and go to another clinic. Especially dangerous is the uncontrolled intake of antibacterial drugs for children. As a result of such therapy, the child's immune system is suppressed, which leads to the development of various pathologies.
IMPORTANT! If there is no good clinic in your area, call an ambulance. In the hospital, you are required to do the necessary tests before prescribing therapy.
How long should I wait after taking antibiotics before taking a blood test? Any drug is excreted from the body. However, in order for the blood test after antibiotics not to show a false result, blood should be taken no earlier than 14 days after the end of the course of treatment. This analysis is given to evaluate the effectiveness of therapy. In some cases, early testing is allowed.
It should be noted that the composition of plasma can be affected not only by antibiotics, but also by other drugs. Even taking medicinal herbs can distort the results of the analysis. For this reason, before donating plasma, you must stop taking all medications. If this is not possible, you need to inform the doctor about it.
Antibiotics, drugs that often save the lives of patients. However, their insidiousness lies in the fact that, with uncontrolled use, they can cause significant harm to our health. How do antibiotics affect blood tests? They simply kill the cells and tissues of our body, and the blood instantly reacts to this by changing its composition. To protect your health and not earn unnecessary diseases, take only those medicines that a qualified doctor has prescribed for you.
According to krov.expert
For each person, the indicators of hormones are individual, but for everyone there is a range of norms and deviations. Endocrine glands produce special substances that regulate the work of individual organs. They are called hormones.
The normal content of these substances, as well as the regularity of their production in the blood, forms the concept of a hormonal background. The well-established work of substances ensures the proper functioning of the whole organism. These substances have a special effect on the endocrine and reproductive systems. A doctor is referred to conduct a study on hormones in case of suspicion of infertility or a malfunction of the thyroid gland.
The referral is issued for a certain day, because before taking the tests, you must follow a diet and follow some recommendations:
- avoid drinking alcohol two days before the test;
- do not smoke two hours before sampling the biomaterial;
- reduce to zero physical activity, sports training in 2-4 days;
- take an analysis on an empty stomach in the morning;
- exclude overheating, trips to the bath, sauna;
- do not combine physiotherapy or x-ray examination with blood sampling.
Emotional tension and irritability can affect test results, so you need to remain calm.
On average, research will take from 1 to 14 days, it all depends on the nature of the substance being determined.
The production of hormones in humans occurs throughout life. Of course, over time, when age increases, the process of producing certain groups of substances may be disturbed, or even stopped altogether.
The classification of hormones still does not have global principles, but scientists managed to study chemical compositions almost all hormones. According to their composition, they are divided into 4 classes:
- steroids - and these are not the steroids that are packaged in jars and sold in sports stores. These are complex chemicals whose properties can be different despite the similar composition. These hormones are responsible for the development and functionality of the genital organs in men and women. These include such well-known substances as testosterone, produced in men in the testicles, and progesterone, located in the corpus luteum of the ovaries in women;
- derivatives of polyunsaturated fatty acids (polyenoic). Another name for substances in this class is eicosanoids. They have a local effect on cells that are near the site of their synthesis. They are found in white blood cells, seminal fluid, platelets;
- derivatives of amino acids (tyrosine) - the production of these substances occurs by the adrenal glands and thyroid gland. These include adrenaline and dopamine;
- peptide and protein hormones - their production is produced by the pancreas, pituitary gland and hypothalamus. These include insulin and glucagon, the normal content of which prevents the occurrence of diabetes. And also in this group is prolactin and oxytocin, they affect the production of milk in women.
A doctor's referral for a blood test for hormones is not issued without reason. For this, health problems must have arisen, diagnoses have been made or chronic diseases are present. A hormonal study is recommended when a diagnosis is made:
- diabetes;
- violation menstrual cycle in women, potency in men;
- infertility, miscarriage;
- decrease in sexual desire;
Research may be ordered in other cases.
Often a cold appears at the most unnecessary moment. What to do if the disease is actively proceeding, is it possible to take tests for a cold? Scientists have proven that respiratory diseases do not affect the hormonal background.
In order for the laboratory assistant to be able to accurately assess the picture of the study, it is necessary to warn him about the state of his health, as well as about the drugs taken. Taking antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and antiviral agents does not affect the picture, but there are drugs that can change the performance. It can be dietary supplements and other drugs.
Taking dopamine can lower the level of thyroid-stimulating hormones. The level of prolactin produced by the pituitary gland, on the contrary, increases when taking medications for stomach ulcers.
The complexity of the ongoing acute respiratory disease may or may not be a contraindication to testing. For example, a mild cold will not interfere with the correct assessment of the results of the study, but high fever and chills can distort the picture.
With cold symptoms, the patient can easily carry out tests for thyroid hormones, as well as total TSH. Only antibiotics can provoke cardinal changes in the composition of the blood. During their intensive use, it is necessary to postpone the diagnosis of hormonal levels until the condition improves.
There is a practice not to take any biomaterials from a patient until 21 days have elapsed from the moment of taking a strong drug. Biological additives can also change the composition of the blood, they should also be indicated during a consultation with a doctor.
During the period of colds, patients can conduct the following tests:
- T4 (free or total);
- T3 if there is no fever and the patient is not taking antipyretic drugs.
An analysis for antibodies to thyroperoxidase with a prolonged cold is not worth taking. The results may not correspond to reality due to the vitamins, medicines and jams consumed.
There are a number of drugs that can dramatically change the results of a laboratory test. These include:
And there are also a number of drugs that can cause peak prolactin releases in the body of a man. Before taking the tests, it is worth refusing to take such funds 10 days before the study.
Based on materials gormonys.ru
Hello Olga!
Let's start with antibiotics. The fundamental essence of the issue is that any medical drug has its own clear indications for use. There are indications - what is there to be afraid or not to be afraid - common sense tells you what to apply.
My daily practice just does not confirm your statement that ordinary people afraid of antibiotics like fire. Moreover - antibiotics are often used without a doctor, by these very ordinary people. And in a situation where the doctor does not prescribe, these same ordinary people are very often indignant. For me, as for a real practitioner, the use of antibiotics for the slightest sneeze is a very big problem. And if on one side of the scale we put "how many diseases were launched precisely because of our panic fear of AB", and on the other "how many diseases became chronic, how many people could not be saved due to premature or unjustified prescription of AB" - so for me the second cup will be louder.
Who will argue about whether it is necessary to prescribe antibiotics for pneumonia, meningitis, scarlet fever, tonsillitis. But with SARS? In acute bronchitis, which is almost always viral? Quite often, a prescribed antibiotic is not a remedy for antibacterial therapy, but psychotherapy of relatives and insurance for a doctor: relatives calm down, knowing that they are using a supposedly effective medicine, and the doctor is sure that if complications arise, he will not be to blame in any way - he did everything that he could and prescribed antibiotics. Illustration. The child fell ill on Sunday. Snot and temperature 39. On Monday, they began to swallow ampicillin. Wednesday is not better - the temperature is 38. They started to inject cefazolin. On Saturday it is not better - he coughs, the temperature rises. They did an x-ray. Pneumonia was diagnosed. Now we need to heal. The question is what? For this is not just pneumonia, but pneumonia caused by bacteria that survived after ampicillin and cefazolin. Those. if they didn’t give anything (because antibiotics weren’t needed - an acute onset with snot - an obvious SARS), then they could calmly drink the syrup of the same ampicillin from Saturday and cure pneumonia. Now it turns out that you need to buy something more expensive and more serious. And there is no more money for this "more serious". You have to go to the hospital, etc. and so on. During my work in the children's intensive care unit, the worst thing was when such a child was admitted, who was first treated by mom and dad, then by the local doctor, then in the district hospital, and then they decided to send them to the regional hospital - but there was nothing to treat - they had already tried everything , and it ended ... The otitis media you mentioned is perfectly treated with the popular (cheap, non-toxic, effective) antibiotic amoxicillin (syn. Flemoxin, ospamox). But otitis media is almost always a complication of SARS. Will amoxicillin be effective if prescribed before otitis, at the very beginning of SARS? Of course it won't. The main misconception is that people are sure: since amoxicillin treats otitis media and pneumonia, then if you prescribe it at the very beginning, then there will be no otitis media or pneumonia! And this is far from true. The cause of otitis media is a violation of the ventilation of the ear cavity due to blockage of the Eustachian tube. The cause of pneumonia is a violation of the ventilation of the lung area due to blockage of the bronchi with viscous sputum. We cannot kill all bacteria at once. And there are a lot of these bacteria in the nasopharynx. We prescribe amoxicillin before we get pneumonia or otitis caused by bacteria that will survive. Amoxicillin has no effect on Staphylococcus aureus. What do you think, is it good as a result of such "timely antibiotic therapy" to get not just pneumonia, but staphylococcal pneumonia, which is more difficult to treat and gives complications many times more often? A rhetorical question... But not prescribing an antibiotic does not mean "not treating", because treatment is completely different and completely specific actions, they are described in the chapters on otitis media and pneumonia, I will not dwell on this. "
I would really like to understand the meanings of such common phrases as: "irrational use of AB", "untimely appointment of AB", "excessive appointment of AB", "irrational use of AB". Rationality in antibiotic therapy lies in the fact that there are recommended (optimal) treatment regimens for diseases in which the pathogen is known. Scarlet fever - penicillin, whooping cough - erythromycin, typhoid fever - chloramphenicol, etc. Recommendations exist for empiric drug selection before the pathogen can be isolated (if it is isolated at all). So in the treatment of pneumonia, the age of the child, the place where the pneumonia arose, and theoretically the doctor knows that some microbes cause pneumonia in a newborn, and others in a three-year-old. Home pneumonia, as a rule, is caused by pneumococcus, hospital - by other bacteria. Deviation from scientifically based schemes is a sign of irrationality. It is not rational to treat scarlet fever or home pneumonia with rovamycin or klaforan - and penicillin is quite rational. One of the manifestations of irrationality is the (extreme) wrong choice - you cannot treat home pneumonia with gentamicin, because it does not affect pneumococcus. It is wrong to treat whooping cough with penicillin, because penicillin has no effect on whooping cough. It is not correct to treat measles, rubella, mumps, SARS, etc. antibiotics, because these are viral infections, antibiotics cannot help at all. "Untimely appointment of AB" A specific bacterial infection was not recognized in a timely manner, so they were not prescribed. But at this point, everything is not so clear and no one in their right mind will delay antibiotics when obvious signs bacterial infection - tonsillitis, meningitis, scarlet fever, etc. But it is precisely the threat of being accused of late prescription that leads to the fact that antibiotics are much more often prescribed prematurely or not at all on the case ... 3rd day of SARS. Baby 5 months old When viewed - a cry for the whole house. Can a doctor, listening to a screaming child, be sure that the lungs are clear? Can not. And in a couple of days an ambulance will arrive at night, take you to the hospital, they will take an x-ray and so gently and collegially notice what you brought the child to, how difficult it will be to save you, if only 2 days ago ... A wonderful way to immediately dot the " and "- we are not to blame in any case, your doctor did not recognize it in time. And no one will prove that there was no pneumonia at that time, they didn’t prescribe it - it’s to blame. And they will prescribe everyone ... "excessive prescription of AB" A particular case of irrationality - injections instead of sweet syrup, three drugs instead of one, ceftriaxone instead of ampicillin, etc. Essence. Antibiotics are serious, highly effective drugs. When on business, yes skillfully. If not in the case, then: - the risk of allergies, the risk of complications of antibiotic therapy (dysbacteriosis, specific complications - hearing loss when using gentamicin, etc.), the risk of resistant bacteria - is relevant for both the individual patient and society as a whole. Each of us has a chance of getting seriously ill - getting into an accident, getting pneumonia and ending up in the hospital. And it will be very cool if at this moment we don’t at least think about the fact that we are allergic to the penicillin group, which (allergy, of course) we earned out of the blue by swallowing ampicillin with a cold. For me personally, the concepts of "pneumonia" and "resistant bacteria" are not empty words at all. At the age of 29, I myself developed lobar pneumonia in my own intensive care unit. And when the best laboratory in the city isolated streptococcus, staphylococcus and E. coli from my blood, resistant to almost everything, then I, as a doctor, was perfectly aware of my prospects. And when I now look at the x-rays of my own lungs taken then, I still don’t fully understand why, after two months of half-life, God still allowed me to stay in this world ... And hormones, in the treatment of allergic dermatitis, are ostrich therapy. Impact on the effect, without understanding the cause.
"Isn't it easier to smear the rash with advantan a couple of times to prevent the attachment of a secondary infection and calmly look for the cause of the allergy". Nobody bothers to look for these reasons before advantan, and during and after. Only when it becomes easier, the intensity of the search for some reason decreases. And you can’t even imagine what kind of secondary infection develops against the background of hormones, and what terrible microbes cause it. Therefore, there are clear indications for hormones - intense itching, a rapid increase in allergy manifestations, etc. And feeding oranges and simultaneously smearing advantan on the cheeks - do you think this does not happen? What a calm search for causes ... Summary: all those cited Your "folk thoughts" are just oral folk art. I can’t understand at all what right a certain neighbor or acquaintance has to comment on the treatment of your child and give advice on this matter. This is your child, and it would be just great if Your child was a doctor who is not afraid of his patient's mother, treats him as he would treat his own child, and would treat his own rationally.And this is the main thing that I would like to wish you.All the best to you. Komarovsky Evgeny Olegovich
[Letter]
Hello, Evgeny Olegovich!
Thank you very much for the answer. You know, in my opinion, people are divided into two camps - those who consider antibiotics a panacea for all ills and drink them indiscriminately (in this group, unfortunately, there are also doctors) and those who are afraid of them like fire and under no circumstances further and further they are trying to delay taking AB. That's the second one I was asking about. The first - God bless them, everything is clear here and the logic (is it?) In principle, it is quite clear. But the second one really surprises me. Because after all, there are people who treat pneumonia with a cold shower, and with otitis media clog their ears with geranium leaves. It is in this case that I would like to know where the legs "grow from", because all sorts of horror stories about AB are still spread by doctors and near-medical figures, because, for example, such information is not available to me due to my prof. unsuitability in this area and I, accordingly, cannot judge this, much less disseminate any information.
“Who will argue about whether it is necessary to prescribe antibiotics for pneumonia, meningitis, scarlet fever, tonsillitis. But with SARS? With acute bronchitis, which is almost always viral? Quite often, the prescribed antibiotic is not an antibacterial therapy, but the psychotherapy of relatives and insurance for the doctor : relatives calm down, knowing that they are using a supposedly effective medicine, and the doctor is sure that if complications arise, he will not be to blame in any way - he did everything he could and prescribed antibiotics. This is a question that has bothered me for a long time. It's no secret that many doctors prescribe antibiotics for ARVI precisely for the purpose of PREVENTION of bacterial complications. I always thought that problems should be solved as they come, but no. For the last time, to my question: “How can we not get otitis, pneumonia, etc. again?”, The doctor answered: “If the temperature is above 38 degrees for more than three days, then you need to start drinking AB.” This irritated me a little, but I didn't argue with him. Although, the doctor is quite respected, young, progressive and far from being a fool.
"Rationality in antibiotic therapy lies in the fact that there are recommended (optimal) treatment regimens for diseases in which the pathogen is known. Scarlet fever - penicillin, whooping cough - erythromycin, typhoid fever - chloramphenicol, etc." Here, here, and this question worried me for a long time. Because on the example of our account. a doctor, one can doubt the presence of this very "empirical choice", because to any question about antibiotic therapy, I always get the same answer: "We will drink sumamed." The first time I managed to avoid this, they were perfectly cured with rulid, on the second ARVI, we were also threatened with drinking sumamed in three days (according to what such indications, on what grounds, it is not clear). You see, these are my sobs about - this doctor said so, and this one is by no means accusatory in relation to specific doctors, because. and one and the other I respect and I like them both. Apparently, they complement each other in my particular case. But the thing is that these stories of mine are not something special. This is a normal everyday life for many, many doctors and parents in the territory of the former Sov. Union. And the saddest thing is that it is almost impossible for non-medical parents to get reliable, competent and well-presented information about ABs and their use. As for hormones. I, in principle, did not mean hormone therapy for atopy, etc. specifically. I'm generally interested in this topic. Hormones also treat a lot of diseases. After all, it's not a secret for anyone (maybe I'm wrong) that at the moment the most effective anti-inflammatory drugs are yavl. hormonal ointments. Is that so? And after all, there are indications when one cannot do without the same notorious advantan. But they don't give it. For example, we didn’t have anything super-terrible in this sense (I’ll spit three times). But I saw on the street, on children. playground creepy faces of small (usually up to 1.5 years old) children, their hands, ears. It was impossible to look at them without a shudder - one solid purple crust, weeping or, on the contrary, dry. To the question "how do you cope with this", almost always received the answer "We bathe in chamomile and a string." But you see - it does not help, you see that it only gets worse - no, they are intimidated by hormones thanks to or uch. doctor or various publications and broadcasts. I'm not saying that we all need to be treated with AB and hormones, but that it would be nice to be more relaxed about these methods. Patients should not draw an enemy for themselves in every tube, or vice versa, should not swallow / smear indiscriminately, and doctors and officials should give the population calm, balanced information without horror films and embellishments. The bottom line of my message is this. Last time I simply did not formulate my question, I blurted again. And the essence of my question was the following: are antibiotic and hormone therapy really so terrible, scary and harmful to the human body, as some patients and even doctors believe. Is it really possible to treat a patient with such "bombing" almost on his deathbed, and before that, you can get by with easier means? Although, in principle, I received an answer - diagnostics is probably the most sore point of our medicine with you. I'm right? Thank you for your attention.
Best regards, Olga
[Doctor's answer]
Hello Olga!
We isolate the main thing: " are antibiotic and hormone therapy really so terrible, scary and harmful to the human body, as some patients and even doctors believe. Is it really possible to treat a patient with such "bombing" almost on his deathbed, and before that, you can get by with easier means?"
And to sum up: not terrible, with proper and rational use, it is very effective and practically safe. The most difficult thing is the aforementioned "competent and rational". But this separate topic. And fears are not needed, really a lot. A typical example is the attitude of the "broad masses" to the same hormonal contraceptives - how to convince people that drinking pills for 10 years is less harmful than having 1 abortion? It is very difficult to fight these rumors and fears in our country, first of all, because everyone considers himself a specialist, but this is half the trouble. And the main trouble is that many people consider themselves entitled to give valuable instructions to others - neighbors, acquaintances and passers-by. And it's almost impossible to fight it.
Some women got pregnant because they were sick and were taking antibiotics at the same time they were taking the pills, because they didn't realize that this could change how the pills work.
Birth control pills are considered one of the most effective types of contraception. When they first appeared in the 1960s, they changed the lives of women who could now, for the first time in history, have sex just for pleasure without facing the high risk of pregnancy. Women began to choose the size of their family. Fewer children per woman means she has more career opportunities. But when using this contraceptive, you should remember some features.
Why do antibiotics affect birth control pills?
Antibiotics alter the intestinal flora and affect the body's ability to absorb hormones. More of the active ingredient is lost during a bowel movement and breakthrough bleeding and pregnancy may occur.
Examples of antibiotics that can affect tablets include amoxicillin, ampicillin, erythromycin, and tetracycline. Other antibiotics that are also enzyme inducers, such as rifampicin and rifabutin, are powerful and render the pills ineffective. These types of medications can increase the amount of enzymes in the body. They are known to be enzyme-inducing and may interfere with hormonal contraception. Enzymes in the body do not return to their normal balance for several weeks after taking this type of medication, so doctors advise using other methods of contraception.
Enzymes are proteins that control chemical reactions in the body, and they can speed up the processing of pill ingredients. The less active components will be in your blood. This is why pregnancy can occur if no other method of contraception is used.
- Anticonvulsants such as phenytoin and carbamazepine.
- HIV drugs such as Norvir.
- Taking ulipristal acetate tablets the next morning.
- Taking herbal medicines, for example, for depression. There have been several reports of pregnancy in women taking St. John's wort.
- Diarrhea and/or vomiting
If you have been taking an enzyme-inducing antibiotic, an alternative, non-hormonal method, is needed four to eight weeks after you stop treatment. Apart from those mentioned above, all other antibiotics are not enzyme-inducing.