Depo contraceptive injection and Lamictal

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Wobblez

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Hi everyone,

Ive been talking to my doc about alternative contraception because the combined pill reduces the efficacy of Lamictal. As it turns out her hubby is an epileptologist and suggested I try the Depo 3monthly injection. Side effects can include weight gain, depression and acne, none of which Im keen on. I was looking into the Merina but Im not so keen on that either. I wanted to try the progesterone mini pill because ive been on that before but Doc politely suggested the depo would be better. Any thoughts?
 
i was told that the pill i was on would stop working after i started taking medication, so they changed the type of pill to one that will work better for me. i haven't had any problems since so it must be working ok for me. so you may not have to change to the injection
 
DONT DO IT!!!

I went on the Depo needle, was 110 lbs, and ballooned to 170 in 4 months. The pain of skin stretching plus the horrible braxton hicks false labour pains when I wasnt even pregnant! It sucked! plus when I went off, I had my period for a month solid!!
 
IUD works well for me -- no worries about hormones. (Plus as a bonus, women who use IUDs are about half as likely to develop cervical cancer as those who have never used one).
 
I tried everything for my catamenial epilepsy including natural progesterone and the only thing that cured my seizures was a monthly Depo Lupron shot. The side effects were night sweats, hot flashes, loss of energy. Basically going through early menopause, but it was better than having seizures. I was seizure free for three years on that stuff. I finally decided to stop it and see what would happen. I remained seizure free for 2 more years and they just recently popped up again. I can't go back on it because I want to have a baby.
 
Never been on Depo but most of my friends who used it gained a LOT of weight and as they described it, it made them crazy... and you can't take it out if it is really negatively affecting you. I just started on Mirena a month or so ago and minus the awful cramps the first couple of weeks (never had any kids so I hear that makez it worse) I've liked it so far. I have gained a couple of pounds but I think that has something to do with being on vacation :)

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I was on depo before, sorry but I can't remember how long but I know it was for a few years, and 9 years after I was diagnosed with epilepsy and didn't have any of those problems.

I had a hysterectomy about a year ago (I'm 35) and I've actually gained more weight since I've stopped taking it. I don't know if the hysterectomy has anything to do with that or not?
 
I was on depo before and hated it! I wouldnt suggest going on that. Now back in the days when i was dating, and before getting married, I was put on the pill. It worked for me, even with taking Carbatrol and Keppra for my seizures. I was put on the pill at 18 years old, and then at the age of 22, I got pregnant. The doctors cant conclude it was from the pill mixed in with the seizure medications, but all I know is that when I tried that depo shot, it messed up my body! I wouldnt do that one at all!
 
My daughter has the depo, but she has it every 10 weeks . She was having the odd breakthrough and this would bring on a seziure . Her nurse is considering the merina now , but she is on a rescue med for the seven days she is at risk , two months into using the drug and no seziures . At present she is taking 500mg morning and night of keppra and 300mg lamactal in the morning .
 
The pill was really ineffective with my epilepsy meds for me and I was advised against depo because of the side effects. I recently had my second Mirena installed (had my first removed to have another baby) and I think it's great. My periods stop completely with the Mirena so it's great!
 
I am on the Merina. I am really sensitive to hormones.I stopped having bad periods. And it has a lot less hormones in it. I got something about it in the mail and liked what I read. So I went to my obgyn and she said that its a great thing. And most people don't even know about it. Go and talk to your Dr. about it. But the Depo is something I would never do. Gaining wheight, having more seizures.With the mirena you have a little card and they check it look at it every time you go the doctor.
 
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