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Epilepsy Meds May Sabotage Birth Control
8 Oct
Summary
- Antiseizure drugs can make hormonal birth control less effective.
- Nearly 1 in 5 women with epilepsy faced this interaction risk.
- IUDs are a reliable birth control option unaffected by these meds.
Women with epilepsy should be aware that certain antiseizure medications can compromise the effectiveness of hormonal birth control. A study published on October 7, 2026, revealed that approximately one in five women with epilepsy were prescribed an antiseizure drug known to interact with contraceptives.
These enzyme-inducing antiseizure medications can accelerate the breakdown of contraceptive hormones, potentially leading to unintended pregnancies. This is a significant concern, as pregnancy complications are more common in women with epilepsy, and some epilepsy medications pose risks to developing fetuses.
The study analyzed U.S. Medicaid claims, identifying nearly 111,000 women of childbearing age with epilepsy. Around 22,000 of them had prescriptions for both hormonal birth control and potentially interacting antiseizure drugs. Overlaps lasting 14 days or more occurred in nearly 33% of these cases, with a median duration of about seven months.
Researchers noted that women with intellectual disabilities, drug-resistant epilepsy, or those aged 35 and older were more likely to experience these potentially pregnancy-risking overlaps. However, effective birth control options that are not affected by antiseizure medications, such as hormonal or copper IUDs, are available and recommended.
