Question:

A few months ago my doctor (GYN) put me on birth control pills (ortho-novum 777) to control severe menstrual cramps (I now have one less abdominal pain to worry about!  Hooray!)  I’ve been on the same brand of pill twice before, in the early 90’s for contraception, and in the mid 80’s for other medical reasons. My question has to deal with something I read on the product information labeling that comes with the pills I’m taking now.  It says that the contraceptive effect of the pills can be reduced by vomiting or diarrhea, and they recommend a 7-day back-up method when that happens.  Thing is, I don’t remember seeing that warning mentioned when I used the pill in the past.  I know I read the labeling thoroughly back then (that’s the kind of person I am) and I would have noticed it, because I’ve had IBS since the mid 80s and the word diarrhea would definitely have caught my attention.  Thankfully, the pill didn’t fail back then despite frequent occurences of the ol’ "D".  It does sound logical, as the pill may not stay in the GI tract long enough to be completely absorbed. Any diarrhea-prone IBS’ers on the Pill heard about this or had any problems? E. P.S.  The doctors who prescribed the pill, including the most recent, never mentioned the diarrhea thing, even though I had informed them of my GI problems, and I never thought to ask.  Only the first (GP), who was also the one who gave me my initial IBS diagnosis, ever treated me for IBS, which he didn’t do very well :-( . —–== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==—– http://www.dejanews.com/   Now offering spam-free web-based newsreading

Response:

Hi, Vomiting and diarrhea can absolutely dilute the effectiveness of the bcp, especially if you have either of the problems right after taking the pill.  As for the 7-day back-up, my doctor told me to use a back-up for the rest of the month.  The same advise as if you missed taking two pills.  I have been of the BCP since 1985 and am fairly certain that ALL of my BCP packs discussed back-up methods. If you are using it for menstrual cramps only, which, I assume you are not, then I would always take extra precautions if you have diarrhea or vomiting, no matter how long after you’ve taken the pill.  Why take chances.  However, I would suggest that you contact your doctor, tell him about your vomiting and diarrhea  to get the facts from him/her about how long it takes for the pill to be absorbed.  If you have frequent vomiting and diarrhea, then the BCP to ease cramps pill may not be for you.  I have been taking double strength ANAPROX, the prescription version of Alleve for years now.  You may want to ask about that if aren’t already taking it. Gool luck. Ilene IMO…@aol.com (Ilene)

Response:

In article <1998060513151700.JAA04…@ladder01.news.aol.com>,   imo…@aol.com (IMOCKU) wrote: > If you have frequent vomiting and diarrhea, then the BCP to > ease > cramps pill may not be for you.  I have been taking double strength ANAPROX, > the prescription version of Alleve for years now.  You may want to ask about > that if aren’t already taking it.

My cramps have virtually disappeared since I started the pill, so apparently it must be getting absorbed thoroughly.  I only get severe diarrhea attacks on average about every two months, with relatively mild attacks every couple of weeks, so I’ll stick with the pill.  Right now I’m not using it for birth control, but if I wanted to, I just wanted to know if I could depend on it. Maybe I missed that warning in the past, it just seems like something I would’ve noticed. Thanks for your insight. E. —–== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==—– http://www.dejanews.com/   Now offering spam-free web-based newsreading

Response:

I would tend to be wary of Anaprox as it can be very hard on the gut as are all "anti-spasmodics".  I’ve often wondered if it wasn’t Anaprox that set off my initial IBS problems (which are now in remission).  Anything like Ibuprofin or NSAIDS should be avoided as much as possible.  Then again, no two people are alike. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -IMOCKU wrote: > Hi, > Vomiting and diarrhea can absolutely dilute the effectiveness of the bcp, > especially if you have either of the problems right after taking the pill.  As > for the 7-day back-up, my doctor told me to use a back-up for the rest of the > month.  The same advise as if you missed taking two pills.  I have been of the > BCP since 1985 and am fairly certain that ALL of my BCP packs discussed > back-up methods. > If you are using it for menstrual cramps only, which, I assume you are not, > then I would always take extra precautions if you have diarrhea or vomiting, no > matter how long after you’ve taken the pill.  Why take chances.  However, I > would suggest that you contact your doctor, tell him about your vomiting and > diarrhea  to get the facts from him/her about how long it takes for the pill to > be absorbed.  If you have frequent vomiting and diarrhea, then the BCP to ease > cramps pill may not be for you.  I have been taking double strength ANAPROX, > the prescription version of Alleve for years now.  You may want to ask about > that if aren’t already taking it. > Gool luck. > Ilene > IMO…@aol.com (Ilene)

Response:

>I would tend to be wary of Anaprox as it can be very hard on the gut as are >all >"anti-spasmodics".

I absolutely agree that they can cause IBS problems. However, I find that if I take anaprox, advil etc… on a full stomach (I know, hard to do if you are vomiting and have diahhrea all the time) that it does not affect me. Anyway as you say, no two people are alike. IMO…@aol.com (Ilene)

Response:

Related Questions