Can You Take A Plan B If You Have Epilepsy?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The medicines and healthcare regulatory body, MHRA, has issued new guidance on the emergency contraception after it was found to be less effective for some women, including those taking certain epilepsy drugs.

Can the morning after pill affect epilepsy?

Morning after pill

may be affected by some epilepsy medicines

, MHRA guidance says. New guidance has warned that some medicines, including some for epilepsy, may reduce how well one type of emergency contraceptive (morning after) pill works.

Does Plan B work with epilepsy?

The medicines and healthcare regulatory body, MHRA, has issued new guidance on the emergency contraception after it was found to be less effective

for

some women, including those taking certain

epilepsy

drugs.

What contraception can I take with epilepsy?

Use a barrier form of contraception in addition to an OC, like a condom, diaphragm, or sponge. Consider long-acting forms of contraception that are not affected by seizure medicines

Do any medications interfere with Plan B?

However, there are medications and herbal supplements that could affect the way the Plan B pill works. Medications that may make Plan B less effective include:

barbiturates

.

carbamazepine

.

Can abortion cause seizures?

The article by Schupf and Ottman adds an important piece of information about that risk, with their report that maternal

spontaneous abortion imparts an increased risk of epilepsy

to the offspring of mothers with idiopathic or cryptogenic epilepsy.

What are the side effects of Plan B?

  • Nausea or vomiting.
  • Dizziness.
  • Fatigue.
  • Headache.
  • Breast tenderness.
  • Bleeding between periods or heavier menstrual bleeding.
  • Lower abdominal pain or cramps.

Does birth control help Catamenial epilepsy?

Depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate (Depo-Provera) is a form of birth control given by injection every 12 weeks, and will stop menses in general. Therefore, it is an option for women with severe catamenial seizure exacerbations. When this intervention produces cessation of menses, as

it often is, seizures may improve

.

What may cause seizures?

Anything

that interrupts the normal connections between nerve cells in the brain

can cause a seizure. This includes a high fever, high or low blood sugar, alcohol or drug withdrawal, or a brain concussion. But when a person has 2 or more seizures with no known cause, this is diagnosed as epilepsy.

Does birth control affect epilepsy medication?


Many seizure medicines do not interact with birth control pills

(OCs), because they do not affect the breakdown of OCs in the body. These medicines are often called “non-enzyme inducing AEDs”.

Can Plan B mess up your body?

Like any medication, Plan B One-Step does

have side effects

. The most common side effect is nausea, which occurs in about a quarter of women after taking the drug. Other side effects include abdominal pain, fatigue, headache, dizziness, vomiting, and menstrual changes.

How Long Does Plan B last in your system?

You can take it up to

five days

after unprotected sex, but it won’t work as well by the fifth day. Once ingested, it’s only effective for a maximum of about five days. After this amount of time, the hormones that were in the pill will have left the body.

Does Plan B mess with your mood?


The emergency method can also cause mood swings

and you may feel more emotional than normal. This is due to the hormones in the pill and should resolve within a few days, however, if you’re worried or if you experience ongoing feelings of depression, speak to a medical professional about it.

What are signs of an incomplete abortion?

  • Bleeding more than expected.
  • Bleeding that doesn’t get lighter after the first few days.
  • Bleeding that lasts more than three weeks.
  • Very severe pain or cramps.
  • Pain that lasts longer than a few days.
  • Discomfort when anything presses on your belly.

When do periods start after abortion?

Your first period will usually return

between 4 to 8 weeks following

a successful abortion. It is not uncommon for your first few periods to be heavier and last longer than usual. After an abortion, it is important that you take all the time you need to look after yourself.

How long does it take for your stomach to go down after an abortion?

Most pregnancy symptoms begin to go away within 24 hours after the abortion, with

nausea usually gone by the third day

.

James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.