5 Clinical Pearls for Contraception and Preconception Counseling
EDITORIAL Women with epilepsy: 5 clinical pearls for contraception and preconception counseling For women with epilepsy, intrauterine devices are the optimal reversible contraceptive, and, preconception, the use of antiepileptic drugs with the lowest teratogenic potential should be considered Robert L. Barbieri, MD Editor in Chief, OBG MANAGEMENT Chair, Obstetrics and Gynecology Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts Kate Macy Ladd Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology Harvard Medical School, Boston n 2015, 1.2% of the US population bazepine (Aptiom), felbamate (Fel- becoming pregnant while taking the was estimated to have active epi- batol), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), oral contraceptive.6 Carbamazepine, Ilepsy.1 For neurologists, key goals perampanel (Fycompa), phenobarbi- a strong inducer of hepatic enzymes, in the treatment of epilepsy include: tal, phenytoin (Dilantin), primidone was the most frequently used AED in controlling seizures, minimizing (Mysoline), rufinamide (Banzel), this sample. adverse effects of antiepileptic drugs and topiramate (Topamax) (at dos- Many studies report that carba- (AEDs) and optimizing quality of ages >200 mg daily). According to mazepine accelerates the metabo- life. For obstetrician-gynecologists, Lexicomp, the following AEDs do not lisms of estrogen and progestins and women with epilepsy (WWE) have cause clinically significant changes reduces contraceptive efficacy. For unique contraceptive, preconcep- in hepatic enzymes that metabolize example, in one study 20 healthy tion, and obstetric needs that require steroid hormones: acetazolamide women were administered an ethi- highly specialized approaches to (Diamox), clonazepam (Klonopin), nyl estradiol (20 µg)-levonorgestrel care. Here, I highlight 5 care points ethosuximide (Zarontin), gabapentin (100 µg) contraceptive, and randomly that are important to keep in mind (Neurontin), lacosamide (Vimpat), assigned to either receive carbamaze- when counseling WWE.
[Show full text]