AEDs and Contraceptives

[Adri Anna Mills]

Experiences, thoughts?

I'm currently on 750 mg Depakote. I will be seeing a neurologist in
mid-March, to discuss, among other things, a possible medication change.
I'd like to start using some sort of (hormonal) contraceptive, but
I obviously don't want some sort of interaction where the AED will cause
the contraceptive to be less reliable.. I know this can be the instance
with the Pill, in particular. Both my general physician and my
gyno have decided to leave this decision up to the neurologist, if he
wishes to make it.

But.. yeah.. I guess I'd like to hear what others have to say on the topic.

(and hi.. this is my first post)

Adri

[mark]

i have a Mirena coil and i do not find any thing that it has affected me
with . I have had the coil 6 months and proir to that i had another Mirean
coil which i had for 3 years. Hope this helps

Isabelle xx

P.s. Mirena coil not normal coil, i fell pregnant with that one.

Post by Adri Anna Mills
Experiences, thoughts?
I'm currently on 750 mg Depakote. I will be seeing a neurologist in
mid-March, to discuss, among other things, a possible medication change.
I'd like to start using some sort of (hormonal) contraceptive, but
I obviously don't want some sort of interaction where the AED will cause
the contraceptive to be less reliable.. I know this can be the instance
with the Pill, in particular. Both my general physician and my
gyno have decided to leave this decision up to the neurologist, if he
wishes to make it.
But.. yeah.. I guess I'd like to hear what others have to say on the topic.
(and hi.. this is my first post)
Adri

[Julie]

Hi Adri, welcome to the group. You may have already done your research on this
subject, but here is what the Epilepsy Foundation (of America) has to say about
hormonal birth control. This was found at their website
http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answerplace/Life/adults/women/weibirthcontrol.cfm

"How will my seizure medication affect my hormonal birth control?
There are complex interactions between the hormones (estrogen and progesterone)
contained in birth control pills or devices, and some of the medications used
to control seizures. Some of these medications increase the breakdown of
contraceptive hormones in the body, making them less effective in preventing
pregnancy. The seizure medications that have this effect are often called
"liver enzyme-inducing" drugs because the liver is the organ that breaks down
these hormones. They are carbamazepine (Tegretol, Carbatrol), oxcarbazepine
(Trileptal), phenytoin (Dilantin), phenobarbital (Luminal), primidone
(Mysoline), and topiramate (Topamax). Valproate (Depakote) and felbamate
(Felbatol) do not increase breakdown of hormones, and may even increase
hormonal levels, which may require an adjustment in the dose of your birth
control. Gabapentin (Neurontin), lamotrigine (Lamictal), levetiracetam
(Keppra), and tiagabine (Gabitril) have no effect on this system and do not
interfere with the effectiveness of hormonal birth control."

Take care,
Julie Walton, Volunteer Webmaster
Epilepsy Foundation of Idaho
http://www.epilepsyidaho.org

Post by Adri Anna Mills
Experiences, thoughts?
I'm currently on 750 mg Depakote. I will be seeing a neurologist in
mid-March, to discuss, among other things, a possible medication change.
I'd like to start using some sort of (hormonal) contraceptive, but
I obviously don't want some sort of interaction where the AED will cause
the contraceptive to be less reliable.. I know this can be the instance
with the Pill, in particular. Both my general physician and my
gyno have decided to leave this decision up to the neurologist, if he
wishes to make it.
But.. yeah.. I guess I'd like to hear what others have to say on the topic.
(and hi.. this is my first post)
Adri