Impact of Cold Medicine on Birth Control Pills: Pregnancy Concerns and Testing

Oral contraceptives, cold medication, pregnancy test?

Hello Doctor, after researching, I found that cold medicine may affect birth control pills.
I took the birth control pill "Kylian" on the night of March 15, which contains 21 pills.
There were a few days in between when I didn't take them regularly, but none were more than 12 hours late.
About a week ago (on March 30), I took cold medicine, and on April 3, I had sexual intercourse with ejaculation inside.
However, April 4 was the last pill.
I would like to know if there is a chance of pregnancy in this situation.
When should I take a pregnancy test? After a 7-day break, can I start the next pack? Will I definitely have a withdrawal bleed after the 7-day break? Thank you for your patience in reading this.
I appreciate it.

Yang, 10~19 year old female. Ask Date: 2018/04/05

Dr. Zhang Kunmin reply Obstetrics and Gynecology

Hello, some medications can indeed affect the efficacy of birth control pills, including certain antibiotics, enzyme inducers, and some HIV treatment medications.
Among these, cold medications often contain antibiotics.
Therefore, if you need to take any of these related medications while on birth control, it is advisable to use additional contraceptive measures for seven days.
The dosage forms of each type of combined oral contraceptive pill (COC) vary, so it is important to follow the instructions for taking the pills.
If you forget to take a pill, you should take it as soon as you remember, and continue taking the next pill at the usual time.
If you miss a pill that is effective for more than 12 hours, in addition to taking the missed pill, it is best to use additional barrier contraception for seven days.
Combined oral contraceptives must be taken at the same time every day to achieve a 99% effectiveness rate.
If you do not get your period one week after stopping the pills or if you are uncertain, it is recommended to consult a physician for evaluation.
Thank you! Wishing you peace and health, Dr.
Zhang.

Reply Date: 2018/04/05

More Info

When it comes to the interaction between cold medicine and birth control pills, it's important to understand how various medications can affect hormonal contraceptives and the implications for pregnancy.
First, let's address the concern regarding the specific cold medicine you took. Most over-the-counter cold medications do not significantly impact the effectiveness of birth control pills. However, certain medications, particularly those containing antibiotics like rifampin or some anti-seizure medications, can reduce the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives. If the cold medicine you took does not fall into these categories, it is unlikely to have affected your birth control.

In your case, you mentioned that you took the birth control pill "祈麗安" (Qilian) on March 15 and experienced some irregularities in your pill-taking schedule, but none exceeding 12 hours. Generally, if you take your pill within 12 hours of the scheduled time, it should still be effective. The key is to maintain consistency in taking your pills to ensure their efficacy.

You also mentioned having unprotected intercourse on April 3, after having taken cold medicine on March 30. If your birth control pill was taken correctly and consistently, the likelihood of pregnancy is low. However, if you missed any pills or took them irregularly, there could be a risk of pregnancy.

To determine if you are pregnant, the best time to take a pregnancy test is after you have missed your period. Since you mentioned that you would stop taking the pills for seven days, you should expect your withdrawal bleed during that time. If your period does not arrive as expected, you should take a pregnancy test. Most home pregnancy tests are accurate if taken at least one week after a missed period.

Regarding your question about whether you can start the next pack of pills after the seven-day break, yes, you can resume taking the pills as scheduled. The seven-day break is designed to allow for a withdrawal bleed, and it is normal for some women to experience this bleeding. However, not all women will have a withdrawal bleed, and this does not necessarily indicate pregnancy.

In summary, if you have taken your birth control pills correctly and consistently, the risk of pregnancy is low, even after taking cold medicine. If you are concerned about pregnancy, wait until after your expected period to take a test for the most accurate result. If you have any further questions or concerns about your birth control or potential pregnancy, it is always best to consult with your healthcare provider for personalized advice and guidance.

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