mutantfrog

Hi,

I've been on Yasmin for about 7-8 years. It's been very successful for me. I rarely get any breakthrough bleeding, my periods are light and acne is better controlled thanks to this drug. I take the bcp ONLY for it's hormonal effects--NOT for actual birth control.

I've been taking amoxicilin for the last year for a skin condition (it's chronic, not going away, will continue to take low doses as long as needed). This drug says it can reduce the effectiveness of bcp.

I also recently started taking modafinil for a sleep disorder. Again, this drug says it can reduce the effectiveness of bcp's.

My last 2 periods have been insanely long/painful/heavy--much like what life was like before I started taking Yasmin. My skin is still moderately clear.

Do you think that the change in intensity/duration of my period could be because the antibiotic is rendering the bcp ineffective? I mean, I know amoxicilin has a warning on the label saying that it reduces effectiveness of bcp's--but I thought they were talking about a minimal change in the amount of hormone my body's getting. Just covering themselves, you know?

What do you think? Could these two new drugs be to blame? I mean, if I'm not going to continue to be able to get the total effect of the bcp's I'm not sure they're worth taking at all. Or perhaps a higher dose is needed? Except I don't know what the stronger equivalent is of Yasmin...and I went through several other bcps (HORRIBLE reactions) before I settled with Yasmin.

Any opinions/advice welcome!

Meringoo

Hi,

Sorry you're having a rough time after years of success w/ Yasmin! I think it will be the antibiotic and the other medicine that is causing these problems. I knwo that when I've been on antibiotics for skin problems, it has affected my pill and I've had painful bleeds. Are there any topical treatments you could use for the skin condition? It's difficult to suggest anything as I don't know what you're taking the anti-biotic for but I would say you should either wait it out and finish the course of meds, or speak to your doctor about other treatments that won't interfere with Yasmin. I definitely wouldn't change your bc if you've found one that is great for you.

Good luck! xx

mutantfrog

Unfortunately it's something that will never go away (so I was told). It's called perioral dermatitis? The skin around my nose and under my mouth turns bright red and BURNS. There is a topical alternative but I am allergic to the particular antibiotic used in the topical application

I've emailed my doctor (our HMO allows this) to see what she thinks, and if we can't find some kind of alternative--at least for the modafinil.

I'll post what I find...

Thanks again

eww

I just started modafinil yesterday. The dr asked me if I was taking bcp because it can mess with them. I'm not though, so I'm not sure what the effect would be. I was also told there isn't much of an alternative to modafinil at the moment. Unless I want to be on amphetamines.

mutantfrog

Yes...that is what I was told as well. They stopped the modafinil and put my on ritalin (very low dose), and it's been helpful for the sleeping problem. My bleeding is slowly righting itself, so I guess it was the modafinil. When I spoke with the GYN she was definitely behind the theory that modafinil messes up menstural cycles/hormones due to its interaction with the pill (for those of us on it).

Oh, well.

At least the ritalin is doing what it's supposed to...I kind of like the idea that it's short acting (whereas the modafinil is not).

eww

Now I'm curious... will Modafinil mess up my regular (hahahaha regular, like THAT is ever the case) non-bcp controlled cycle? I started a thread on here yesterday possibly about interactions. I thought since Cysters have increased levels of sleep disorders I might get some answers. So far nothing though. I'm surprised.

I'm just starting to really figure out what's going on with this.

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Erinn
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