ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES AND ANTIBIOTIC THERAPY
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Does anyone have a definitive answer to the ongoing controversy of 
antibiotics blocking the actions of anovulatory agents.  Many young 
females hesitate to subscribe to antibiotic therapy because of 
various anecdotal reports on the subject.  It is my understanding 
that griseofulvin and sulfonamides are more likely to interfere than 
standard antibiotics.

Harold Blumenthal, M.D.
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Tetracyclines are also on the list, however there is a theoretical 
problem with any antibiotic.

If a patient desires long term antibiotic Rx and is on OCP's (i.e. 
someone taking TCN or another AB for Acne), I warn them about a 
potential interaction and suggest a back-up form of contraception (i.e. 
condoms).

Rjshar@aol.com
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Unfortunately, there will be no definitive answer as to whether a drug 
does or does not interfere with BCPs.  Even with rifampin, the 
best-documented offender, the effect isn't 100%, rather it varies along 
with individual metabolic differences, co-administered drugs, bowel 
flora, and perhaps even food ingested.  All of the metabolism mavens 
I've talked to say about the same thing.

Guy Webster MD
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Sorry, no definitive info on antibiotic interference and bcps, but my 
office has found the article from the june  JAAD page 1008 "a practical 
approach to antibiotic treatment in women taking oral contraceptives", 
very helpful.  we give the patient a copy of the table and it's 
explanation that goes over the subject. it is written in a very 
understandable I would like to credit the authors Daniel Miller, Stephen 
Helms, MD, and Robert Brodell, MD.
 
William Liss MD
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