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Can seizures be caused by birth control?

Fri, 02/22/2008 - 17:02

Now, I know some of you may think this is strange, but here goes:

I'm 21 and have had only 2 seizures in my life. One in April of last year and the other in August.  Both were after being on birth control (tri-cyclen lo, to be exact) for 3 months. I stopped taking my birth control after my seizure in April, but I didn't really think anything of it. I wasn't seeing anyone at the time so I just didn't really want it in my system. I started taking my birth control again in June after I met a new guy. After I had the seizure in August (late August) I started to think maybe it was caused by my birth control. The neurologist that was assigned to me said that it was entirely 100% impossible, but my family physician told me there was always a chance. 

I have been completely off my birth control since that last seizure and have not been taking any medications either. I feel a lot healthier and I haven't had a single problem since then, but the neurologist still will not listen to my input about why I think this happened.

I sat down with one of my girl friends that also has epilepsy and told her what was going on. She told me that the same thing happened to her when she started taking the pill but that none of the neurologists here believed her. She went to a husband and wife team in Quebec (way far away) and they told her that it was entirely possible that it was her birth control that caused it.

Anyways, has this happened to anyone else? 

Comments

Re: Can seizures be caused by birth control?

Submitted by roballen812 on Wed, 2012-08-22 - 17:10

Thank you for the post and information...my 16 year old daughter had her first seizure 1 week ago, with not ever having one before now and no family history of seizures.  She is experiences general Tonic - loses conciesness and has mutiple (15-20 secs) tonic (stiffening of all her muscles, arched back,etc..) seizures.  They prescribed Keppra, and just keep increasing the dosage....she is now taking 1000mg -  yesterday, following 3 days of no seizures , she had 7.  She has been in and out of the ER and has been admitted for observation and a 24 hr video EEG - all with normal results.  The ONLY thing is diffrent is that she began taking Microgestin FE1/20 on July 1st (about 1 & 1/2 months ago).  From what I can tell Loestrin is the same drug...re-named?  I have mentioned this to 3 ER docs, 2 PICU docs, and her Nuero...all of which seemed to dismiss my thoughts. 

Can you please contact me with the sources of the infomration for the animal testing results?

Thanks.... 

Thank you for the post and information...my 16 year old daughter had her first seizure 1 week ago, with not ever having one before now and no family history of seizures.  She is experiences general Tonic - loses conciesness and has mutiple (15-20 secs) tonic (stiffening of all her muscles, arched back,etc..) seizures.  They prescribed Keppra, and just keep increasing the dosage....she is now taking 1000mg -  yesterday, following 3 days of no seizures , she had 7.  She has been in and out of the ER and has been admitted for observation and a 24 hr video EEG - all with normal results.  The ONLY thing is diffrent is that she began taking Microgestin FE1/20 on July 1st (about 1 & 1/2 months ago).  From what I can tell Loestrin is the same drug...re-named?  I have mentioned this to 3 ER docs, 2 PICU docs, and her Nuero...all of which seemed to dismiss my thoughts. 

Can you please contact me with the sources of the infomration for the animal testing results?

Thanks.... 

Re: Can seizures be caused by birth control?

Submitted by jencas16 on Sat, 2008-09-27 - 18:26

Whatever is going on, changing hormones have everything to do with seizures.  After my gyno, a good friend of my mother's, found out about my most recent grand mal (all of which have been on my period), he put me on birth control (femcon) but prescribed me to skip the inert pills in order to skip my period and even out my hormones on a constant basis.  My husband and I had planned on having our second child soon, but until both my gyno and neuro agree that my epilepsy is under control, they will not approve such a hormonal upheaval.  Once we do have our second child, we plan on a tougher form of BC to take away my period, thus taking away the target zone for my seizures.  Everyone is different.  For me BC is essential, for others, the opposite.

JME - Diagnosed in 2000

Whatever is going on, changing hormones have everything to do with seizures.  After my gyno, a good friend of my mother's, found out about my most recent grand mal (all of which have been on my period), he put me on birth control (femcon) but prescribed me to skip the inert pills in order to skip my period and even out my hormones on a constant basis.  My husband and I had planned on having our second child soon, but until both my gyno and neuro agree that my epilepsy is under control, they will not approve such a hormonal upheaval.  Once we do have our second child, we plan on a tougher form of BC to take away my period, thus taking away the target zone for my seizures.  Everyone is different.  For me BC is essential, for others, the opposite.

JME - Diagnosed in 2000

Re: Can seizures be caused by birth control?

Submitted by Jill B on Sun, 2008-09-28 - 17:48

Ladies!  Be your own best friend. If you believe your birth control is contributing to your seizures, GET OFF OF IT.  All of these experiences cannot be a coincidence. 

We are still trying to find a neurologist who is willing to look at the cause of the seizure in lieu of treating the symptoms in the Chicago area.  Some look very promising.

Also, when I contacted the FDA they indicated that no one has reported any adverse reactions as they relate to birth control and seizures.  You can help many other young women by reporting your experiences to the FDA at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/how.htm.

Ladies!  Be your own best friend. If you believe your birth control is contributing to your seizures, GET OFF OF IT.  All of these experiences cannot be a coincidence. 

We are still trying to find a neurologist who is willing to look at the cause of the seizure in lieu of treating the symptoms in the Chicago area.  Some look very promising.

Also, when I contacted the FDA they indicated that no one has reported any adverse reactions as they relate to birth control and seizures.  You can help many other young women by reporting your experiences to the FDA at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/how.htm.

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