Minera + Antibiotics = extra caution, or go for broke?

[lnt1103]

I just went on a 10-day course of Amoxocillin, 1750mg twice a day. Large dose, but the pharmacists I've asked seem to think that with the combination of 1-my diabetes 2-everything that's going around and 3-how hard it can be to get this crap to leave the sinus passages and ears, a little aggression isn't a bad thing.

The bigger question I have is this: not knowing I'm on a Minera IUD, the pharmacist was careful to warn me of the effects antibiotics can have on BCPs. However, he was unsure if it will affect the effectiveness of the IUD.

(Before anyone cautions me that condoms should always be mandatory, I know that. But for the fact that I have been in the same committed relationship for two years, I would do so. There is absolutely zero risk of STD, and as far as pregnancy we figure we're fine with my IUD.)

[Brandye]

That is a load of amoxicillin! The principal purpose of hormone impregnation of IUDs has nothing to do with contraception. The hormone is at a very low level and does not affect the effectiveness. The hormone does reducing bleeding and can be used to moderate amenorrhea. So, you are not on a hormonal birth control but on a mechanical birth control with hormones to help control side effects.

The IUD is the most widely used birth control in the world (Chine alone has tens of millions in use) and the vast majority of them are not hormone impregnated.

Have at it; your (very low) chance of pregnancy will not be affected.

[lnt1103]

Thanks Brandye, I tried a google search and came up empty. I knew I could count on you!!

As far as the dosage of the antibiotic, I asked questions of the dispensing pharmacist, the prescribing clinic, and a professor at the college of Pharmacy at the university, who has a PharmD. All agree that it is indeed quite a large dose (the prof said twice the typical dose for an ear infection), but that it's not an unsafe dosage (the clinic said you're safe up to 4000mg at a time), and that both the diabetes and the strength of the crud going around could be factors.

T just got dx'd with sinusitis, and was given the very same course of the very same med, roughly two days later. Which is interesting, given that size-wise, he's probably at least two of me. And of course, we're both on powerful OTC decongestants.