Birth control?

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CallMeSam

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So I went to my Doctor - first time seeing her - for a complete physical, just standard, and due to extreme cramps and PMS symptoms she prescribed a low dose Ortho Tri-Cyclen to help.

She says that bar breakthrough bleeding and the like it should nearly stop my cramps and I'll only have 4 periods a year. Ideal, right?

The nurse who came in with the information afterwards tells me that her Daughter was on Lamotrigen - like I am - and had had no seizures in years but when she started taking Ortho Tri-Cyclen she had breakthrough seizures and hands me a whole page on how this birth control can cause seizures, studies on how they happen, etc, etc.

So naturally in a panic I call my neurologist and ask over the phone if it's okay, give the nurse the names, the doses; what I already take and what she gave me and she promises a call back when she consults him.
Even she sounded surprised about breakthrough seizures!

I called on friday, I got a call back yesterday from the nurse sounding relieved and she told me the Neurologist said I could take a dose 10-20x stronger than what my other Doctor prescribed before I should have any side effects.

But now I'm honestly terrified to take them!
The prospect of no cramps is such a fantastic one when I've been suffering for 10 years under the worst cramps that not even extra strength pamprin can touch.
But I've also been seizure free for 5 years as of October and I'm petrified of having any more.

I don't have just one seizure, when my start they don't stop for a good 12 hours. The fewest I've had in one setting was 2, the most was 4 Grand Mal in 12 hours.

I'm completely petrified and torn about whether or not I should take them. According to the study presented the seizures could start as early as 2 days after starting Ortho Tri-Cyclen or 2 months.

Sorry for the TMI long ramble, but have any women here dealt with mixing Ortho Tri-Cyclen and Lamotrigen/Lamictal?

Does anyone have any advice?

I haven't started taking them yet, it's not time to, and I'm lost on if I want to risk it.

At least the Pharmacy fills birth control for free with my insurance...
 
Just because there is a risk that a medication might produce a certain side effect, it doesn't necessarily mean that it's a big risk, or even a probable one. It's possible that that birth control pill caused seizures in nearly all epilepsy patients who used it, and it's possible that it caused seizures in one out of a thousand. Which is why you really need a doctor to figure out what's best for you. If my doctor tells me that there is a seizure risk, but it's so low that she's not concerned, I go with her advice. There have been times when I've asked her about lowering seizure thresholds and she's told me if that happens we just increase the AED. But at that stage my epilepsy was pretty well controlled.

Just checked and Lamitrogen interacts with all birth control pills, so you will have to weigh the risks, benefits and dosage with your doctor. Everyone seems to advise keeping the contraceptive dosage low on AEDs. But you can always balance both ways: raise the AED, keep the contraceptive low.

And remember that almost all AEDs interfere with the efficacy of oral contraceptives, so you will not be able to use them for that.
 
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:agree:

Get as informed as you can, ask your doc a lot of questions until you feel confident enough to move forward with a decision. In the short term you might ask about taking a magnesium supplement to see if it helps a bit with the cramps (magnesium plays a role in relaxing muscles).

And remember that almost all anti-epileptic drugs interfere with the efficacy of oral contraceptives, so you will not be able to use them for that.
Click to expand...
I switched to an IUD so as not to worry about contraceptive effectiveness. With the added benefit of zero periods...
 
I've been on low dose ortho tri cyclen for almost 2 years. I just started Keppra within the past month. I guess it doesn't affect the effectiveness of the birth control. As for Lamictal, I'm not sure. But I agree with Kirsten. If even one person had seizures while taking it, they have to put it as a possible side effect.
 
kirsten said:
Just because there is a risk that a medication might produce a certain side effect, it doesn't necessarily mean that it's a big risk, or even a probable one.
Click to expand...

On the giant packet of papers I was given with the 'drug interaction' on it it said the risk of breakthrough seizures was 'probable' and listed partial studies.
I think the number was 22 women on Lamictal having break through seizures out of a study of 30 but I have to reread it.

It makes me leery.
 
That's a high risk. Have you looked into whether other birth control pills have a lower risk?
 
kirsten said:
That's a high risk. Have you looked into whether other birth control pills have a lower risk?
Click to expand...

I haven't, no. It was a little impromtu prescription, I hadn't gone in looking for one, just a reason why I got such horrible cramps or something to ease them a little.
She said my only option were pills or an IUD (Which I'm not getting).

I was on Yaz, YEARS ago when I first started on lamictal without any issues but I haven't looked into it again.
 
honestly; I asked my doctors about being put on birth control a couple weeks ago ; but because hormones are a seizure trigger and we are still trying to get mine more controlled, they suggested I stay off it so I don't mess with my seizures at all- at least for now...


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At this point, with my epilepsy being in a mess, I wouldn't risk any potential triggers. Have you tried every option in terms of painkillers? I use ibuprofen and paracetamol. My doctor recommended I take 2 of those Naprosyns, which is over the usual recommended dose but she said it was okay. Frankly, the only thing that worked was 2 Naprosyns, 800 mg ibuprofen and 2 paracetamols WITH a strong cup of coffee and I'm not sure how safe that is. I suspect I have a stomach made of steal.

Also, have you looked into the reason for the severity of your cramps? Could be that a gynae can identify the cause and fix that?
 
turns out years ago When I first went on the pill this must have been like 20 years ago before I was married it turned out I had benign cysts and that what was causing the cramps. I am now on nuva ring and that seems to be working well for me and my husband. I too have seizures that are related to my cycle. But I am thinking about switching to an IUD to see if it makes a difference no period no seizures.

Tina
 
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