is there a pharmacist on mumsnet? need to check something.....

[queenrollo]

i was prescribed Erythromycin 250mg for an infection after dental treatment.....i asked the pharmacist in Boots if it would affect my contraceptive (Yasmin) and she checked and said 'no, it's fine....it's penicillin based AB's that are a problem'.....

well a friend who had these ab's a while ago said she was told they would affect her pill.......and even though i've been careful i'm now panicking that my pharmacist was wrong.

sooooooo i don't suppose there's a friendly medical expert on here can tell me if my pharmacist is talking rubbish or not.

not a pharmacist but, have your read the leaflet which usually comes with the packaging.

read the section called 'contraindiction'

i can't because i didn't get one with it

from netdoctor:

If you are taking a combined oral contraceptive pill or are using contraceptive patches, there may be a very low risk that this antibiotic may make it less effective at preventing pregnancy. Although the risk of this is very low, the personal and ethical consequences of an unwanted pregnancy can be very serious. For this reason, the Family Planning Association recommends that women using a combined contraceptive pill or patch should use an extra method of contraception (eg condoms) while taking a short course of broad-spectrum antibiotic, and for seven days after finishing the course. If the seven days run beyond the end of a pill packet, a new packet should be started without a break (in the case of ED pills the inactive tablets should be omitted). If the seven days run beyond the 3 weeks of patch treatment, a new treatment cycle should be started immediately without a patch-free

read here from 4.3 - 4.5]]

it seems fine to me.

Vomiting is a listed side effect of erythomycin, which could alter the effectiveness of your pill.

Message withdrawn

I have just looked in teh BNF there is nothing in there but it does say poss side effects include diarrhoea/vomiting which could impair efectiveness

I would be double careful and use condoms too

disclaimer: I am not a doctor - theBNF is dh's (nor is he)

Any antibiotic can alter the natural levels of bacteria in the gut and affect the absorbtion of the pill. The risk is small but to be safe use condoms as in Iota's post.

ToastAddict is a pharmacist but she hasn't been on for a while.

no nookie for me for a while then .......condoms not an option. i've not had any reaction to the ab's but it's not worth taking the risk.

Just re-read the OP, and I suspect a conspiracy.

Should you conceive, where will you be going for breast pads, bottles, nappies, bum cream etc? Boots...maybe....?

Buy condoms. From Superdrug.

why are condoms not an option?

I hate to tell you but this is the drug that made me pregnant!! (well,not the drug as such but...)

we have had a few 'accidents' with condoms in the past and so we'd rather abstain till i am covered by my pill than attempt to use a condom and have the panic we had before.
I am very annoyed with the pharmacist in Boots for telling me i would be ok