What Birth Control Can You Take With Topiramate?

Birth control pills containing estrogen may not work properly if you take them with topiramate. To keep from getting pregnant, use an additional form of birth control (eg,

condoms

, spermicide) together with your birth control pill. If you have any questions about this, check with your doctor or pharmacist.

Why does topiramate affect birth control?

One disadvantage of topiramate is that

it can cause your body to metabolize, or break down

, certain drugs more rapidly than normal, reducing the efficacy of these medications. One such medication is estrogen, the key ingredient of estrogen-based birth control pills.

How much does topiramate decrease birth control effectiveness?

Compared with the oral contraceptive alone, EE Cmax with topiramate co-administration changed –

7%

(50 mg), +5% (100 mg), -15% (200 mg non-obese), and -11% (200 mg obese); EE AUC changed -11%, +6%, -11%, and -9%, respectively. Topiramate's treatment effect was not significant for Cmax or AUC in any treatment group.

What medications should not be taken with birth control?

• Carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Epitol, Equetro, Tegretol)
• Felbamate (Felbatol)
• Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal)
• Phenobarbital (Luminal)
• Phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek)
• Primidone (Mysoline)
• Topiramate (Topamax)

What should I avoid while taking Topamax?

Avoid the use of a ketogenic or “ketosis” diet

(high in fat, low in carbohydrates) while you are taking topiramate. Topiramate may cause blurred vision or impair your thinking or reactions. Avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how this medicine will affect you.

Does topiramate cancel out birth control?

The effects of your birth control pills may decrease and cause breakthrough bleeding, spotting, or pregnancy. If you are taking a product containing phentermine and topiramate for weight loss, you may experience breakthrough bleeding, but

it is not expected to decrease the effectiveness of your birth control

.

Can topiramate cause permanent damage?

Rare/serious side effects

Topiramate may cause

eye problems

. Serious eye problems include a sudden decrease in vision with or without pain/redness and increased pressure in the eye. These eye problems can lead to permanent vision loss if not treated.

When should you not take Topamax?

1. are allergic to it or any of the ingredients in it.
2. consume alcohol within 6 hours of taking Topamax.
3. have or have had any of these conditions: Glaucoma or other eye problems. Kidney disease. Metabolic acidosis. …
4. are planning to become pregnant or if you are breastfeeding.

Can you take Topamax while on birth control?

Topiramate

can make birth control pills less effective

, which may result in pregnancy. Before taking topiramate, tell your doctor if you use birth control pills. If you are using oral contraceptives you should be advised of the risk of breakthrough bleeding and unintended pregnancy during topiramate therapy.

Does topiramate cause birth defects?

March 4, 2011 — Taking the epilepsy drug topiramate (Topamax) during pregnancy raises

the risk of oral cleft birth defects such as cleft lip and cleft palate

, according to a new warning issued by the FDA.

Does he need to pull out if I'm on the pill?

The biggest advantage of pulling out is that it's convenient. You don't need any condoms, birth control pills or other items to practice the pull out method. Instead,

your partner just needs to pull out before they ejaculate

.

Does Tylenol cancel out birth control?

Cold medicine like Sudafed and pain relievers like Tylenol

won't mess with your birth control pills

. If you're taking your birth control correctly, you can feel confident that it's working to protect you from pregnancy.

What makes birth control pills fail?

Human behavior

is the most common reason that birth control pills fail (1). The majority of people using the pill forget to take one or more each month (5), while others have challenges filling the prescription monthly (6). Some people might stop taking it because they are concerned about side effects (1).

How do you feel on Topamax?

1. tingling of the arms and legs (paresthesia)
2. not feeling hungry.
3. weight loss.
4. speech problems.
5. fatigue.
6. dizziness or sleepiness.
7. slow reactions (psychomotor slowing)
8. nervousness.

Does Topamax make you pee a lot?

Can topiramate (Topamax) make me urinate more often?

The medication itself won't make you urinate more often

. However, it's recommended to drink plenty of liquids when taking topiramate (Topamax) to prevent kidney stones. Drinking more water may cause you to urinate more often.

Do you gain weight back after stopping Topamax?

Conclusions: Loss of body weight is a reversible effect, which at 6 months after TPM discontinuation shows a clear trend to return to baseline values.

HOMA-IR is the only predictive factor of weight regain

.