papertrees Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 My pdoc has me on 150mg of Lamictal... I asked him about its interaction with birth control pills (Diane 35) and he said that I should abstain from sex... I told him I can't and he never replied. It's purely for religious purposes. What do I do? And in WHAT WAY does Lamictal interact w birth control pills? Does lamictal lessen the effectivity of BC pills? HELP. Kinda urgent. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunshineOutside Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 Hi Papertrees Lamictal can in fact reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills. Do you only have one doctor? Do you have a gp? Sunshine Outside Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papertrees Posted December 6, 2009 Author Share Posted December 6, 2009 Really? But I read somewhere that Lamictal's effectivity is the one reduced? No, I don't have any other doctor.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ophelia Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 Really? But I read somewhere that Lamictal's effectivity is the one reduced? No, I don't have any other doctor.. Yes, Lamictal is made less effective by birth control pills. Therefore, your doctor will have to treat you accordingly. My pdoc has me on 150mg of Lamictal... I asked him about its interaction with birth control pills (Diane 35) and he said that I should abstain from sex... I told him I can't and he never replied. It's purely for religious purposes. I'm sorry, but I might be misunderstanding this. You *can't* abstain from sex because of religious reasons? I mean, I don't know, but if my doctor told me for one reason or another than I should abstain because of a birth control pill concern, I'd probably listen. Although, there are always things you can use like condoms and such, you know, back up birth control... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papertrees Posted December 6, 2009 Author Share Posted December 6, 2009 Haha! I meant that he wanted me to abstain from sex for purely religious purposes. I am in a Catholic country, that's why. That's his only reason. No medical reason behind it. He wants me to build a stable relationship with my partner "this time around." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunshineOutside Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 Sorry guys, I stated that wrong. If I remember correctly, the Lamictal dosage can be adjusted while taking bc pills. Check it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ophelia Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 Haha! I meant that he wanted me to abstain from sex for purely religious purposes. I am in a Catholic country, that's why. That's his only reason. No medical reason behind it. He wants me to build a stable relationship with my partner "this time around." Ok. Well, regardless, I still stand by the use of condoms as back-up birth control when one is unsure of the status of their birth control pills. It's better safe than sorry, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notfred Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 Only some BC pills effect levels of lamictal, not the other way around. From the PI Women and Other Hormonal Contraceptive Preparations or Hormone Replacement Therapy: The effect of other hormonal contraceptive preparations or hormone replacement therapy on the pharmacokinetics of lamotrigine has not been systematically evaluated. It has been reported that ethinylestradiol, not progestogens, increased the clearance of lamotrigine up to 2-fold, and the progestin only pills had no effect on lamotrigine plasma levels. Therefore, adjustments to the dosage of LAMICTAL in the presence of progestogens alone will likely not be needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nalgas Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 Lamictal can reduce effectiveness of some hormonal birth control, but generally by a relatively small amount, if at all. Silver had a good citation in a similar thread to this earlier this year if someone wants to look for it, but I forget what/where and just woke up. The larger concern, as notfred's post says, is usually that the birth control pills reduce effectiveness of Lamictal. This is the exact opposite of the interaction between most other ACs and BCPs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papertrees Posted December 7, 2009 Author Share Posted December 7, 2009 Good to know... I am scared of trying it out without my pdoc's blessing, but then again, I really can't abstain. Maybe I'll try upping my lamictal, like it says in the PI sheet, by 2-fold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notfred Posted December 7, 2009 Share Posted December 7, 2009 You can't just double your Lamictal, you have to titrate up to the new dose. There are a whole lot of assumptions being made. I would not change your dose without talking to your doc. There is a blood test for Lamictal so you can know what your levels are and adjust your dose accordingly. nf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancesintherain Posted December 7, 2009 Share Posted December 7, 2009 There is a blood test for Lamictal so you can know what your levels are and adjust your dose accordingly. Really? I hadn't had that one done before. I've heard of lithium levels and stuff related to depakote, but never a lamictal blood test. Maybe I should check w/ my doctor on that one. Papertrees, it would definitely be worth checking with your doctor again. Maybe try to gently explain that you understand his position on abstaining, but that it's not practical for your life and isn't a promise you feel like you could abide by...but that you want to make sure you're mentally healthy and want to talk about alternatives? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papertrees Posted December 7, 2009 Author Share Posted December 7, 2009 I will try to talk to him again.. The thing is I won't see him again till January.. And that's too long a wait.. I dunno.. I'll see. I just want to make SURE that the bc's effectivity wont be compromised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ophelia Posted December 7, 2009 Share Posted December 7, 2009 Yeah, don't go changing your Lamictal dose without your doctor's consent. In the meantime, in you are concerned about the effectiveness of your birth control pills, I will repeat myself again, you can always use condoms as a form of back-up birth control. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papertrees Posted December 7, 2009 Author Share Posted December 7, 2009 Okay... Thank you.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest papertrees Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 update. saw my pdoc today. He is titrating me up to 300mg of lamictal to make way for my birth control pills. So it's 200mg, then 250, then 300... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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