0
What else can I help you with?
What medication's are not safe to take with birth control?
Antibiotics inhibit the effectiveness of it.The main ones are antibiotics, but you should check with the person prescribing the medicine as to how it will affect them. If you are prescribed medicine when your parents are there and they don't know you're taking birth control pills then you should phone the clinic who prescribed the birth control and ask them what the risks are. They'll be able to tell you.antibiotics are a very common one that affects birth control. there might be others.When taking birth control, women should steer clear of smoking and penicillin derived antibiotics.antibiotics. always consult your doctor first.The effects of birth control may be reduced for a number of reasons. You should consult with your doctor for a more complete list or an assessment of your individual risks. Here are basic factors that may reduce the effects of birth control:1. Inconsistent use. If you do not take your pill at the same time (+/- about 4 hours is fine) or miss any days (you may miss ONE day, but must take your birth control at the exact same time every other day of the month), your risk of pregnancy increases.2. Grapefruits. Although this may sound strange, grapefruits actually contain properties that can lower the effectiveness of birth control.3. Antibiotics. Although a number of recent studies show that most (if not all) antibiotics actually have no effect on the efficiency of birth control, it is still advisable to use a backup method during a course of antibiotics and for at least 3 days afterwards.
TSH test?
DefinitionA TSH test measures the amount of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in your blood. TSH is produced by the pituitary gland and tells the thyroid gland to make and release the hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3).See also:T3 testT4 testAlternative NamesThyrotropin; Thyroid stimulating hormoneHow the test is performedBlood is typically drawn from a vein, usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The site is cleaned with germ-killing medicine (antiseptic). The health care provider wraps an elastic band around the upper arm to apply pressure to the area and make the vein swell with blood.Next, the health care provider gently inserts a needle into the vein. The blood collects into an airtight vial or tube attached to the needle. The elastic band is removed from your arm. Once the blood has been collected, the needle is removed, and the puncture site is covered to stop any bleeding.In infants or young children, a sharp tool called a lancet may be used to puncture the skin and make it bleed. The blood collects into a small glass tube called a pipette, or onto a slide or test strip. A bandage may be placed over the area if there is any bleeding.How to prepare for the testYour health care provider may ask you to stop taking drugs that may interfere with the test. Drugs that can affect TSH measurements include:AmiodaroneAntithyroid medicationsDopamineLithiumPotassium iodidePrednisoneHow the test will feelWhen the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain, while others feel only a prick or stinging sensation. Afterward, there may be some throbbing.Why the test is performedYour doctor will order this test if you have signs of abnormal thyroid function (hyperthyrodism or hypothyrodism). It is also used to monitor treatment of these conditions.Normal ValuesNormal values are 0.4 - 4.0 mIU/L.However, those without signs or symptoms of an underactive thyroid who have a TSH value over 2.0 mIU/L but normal T4 levels may develop hypothyroidism in the future. This is called subclinical hypothyroidism (mildly underactive thyroid) or early-stage hypothyroidism. Anyone with a TSH value above this level should be followed very closely by a doctor.If you are being treated for a thyroid disorder, your TSH level should be between 0.5 and 3.0 mIU/L.Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.What abnormal results meanGreater than normal levels may indicate:Congenital hypothyroidism (cretinism)Exposure to mice (lab workers or veterinarians)Primary hypothyroidismThyroid hormone resistanceTSH-dependent hyperthyroidismLower than normal levels may be due to:HyperthyroidismTSH deficiencyUse of certain medications (including dopamine agonists, glucocorticoids, somatostatin analogues, and bexarotene)What the risks areVeins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others.Other risks associated wit having blood drawn are slight but may include:Excessive bleedingFainting or feeling light-headedHematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)ReferencesAACE Thyroid Task Force. American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists medical guidelines for clinical practice for the evaluation and treatment of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Endocr Pract. 2002;8(6):457-469.Brent GA, Larsen PR, Davies TF. Hypothyroidism and Thyroiditis. In: Kronenberg HM, Melmed S, Polonsky KS, Larsen PR, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:chap 12.
