Does anyone take Carbamazepine? morning after pill emergency

[KateSpade]

I've been taking carbamazepine for 12 months & about three weeks ago I was told hormonal contraceptives wouldn't work,

Would this include the morning after pill, the doctor at the time didn't know, it hasn't been as issue but I've started dating someone & the condom split,

If you take carbamazepine what contraception do you use?

Any advice well received!

[SmallLegsOrSmallEggs]

Carbemazepine does funny things to the absorption of other medicibes.
You need to consult a pharmacist on that one. Coil might work as emergency cobtraception though.
Can you get an appt for Monday?

[anotherbloomingusername]

It may be worth talking to a pharmacist, as they tend to be very clued up on individual drugs. If you need the MAP, go to the chemist when they open and they'll be able to tell you whether it should be effective. The sooner you go, the better.

Have you been tracking your cycle?

[NorthernLurker]

If a pregnancy would be a disaster then don't muck around. You need to get a coil today.

[DecaffCoffeeAndRollupsPlease]

I remember being taught as a teen 72 hours for pills, most effective early; 5 days for coil, so I'd think that would be your best bet.

I've had one fitted, didn't hurt going in or coming out, did seem to make my periods slightly heavier, but I've heard that the hormone coil mostly makes them lighter.

[KittyandTeal]

I was specifically not given carbemazepine because of interference with other drugs. It's a bit shit that your doc didn't know!

I'd second pps, you need a coil fitted asap

[Fizrim]

Can you contact whatever NHS direct is now called in your area one of the health service information lines and ask about this, carbamazepine does interfere with other tablets and depending on the reason you are taking it, would not be recommended in pregnancy either*

*if you take it for pain relief reasons they will often stop it completely during pregnancy, not if you are taking it to control epilepsy though.

[KateSpade]

It is for controlling my epilepsy, I was so shocked not one doctor had mentioned that before!

I'm not tracking my cycle at all, apart from my last two periods have started around the 28th!

Would it work if I took it today & stopped taking my epilepsy medication for a few days? (So bloody stupid, but yes a pregnancy would be a disaster?)

[NorthernLurker]

No I think the effects would still be there and anyway stopping your epilepsy medication puts you at risk. Don't do that. Just find out where you can get a coil today because all morning after contraception works better the sooner you sort it out.

[scaevola]

No. Well, probably not, because it takes a while for the effects of drug 1 to clear your system before drug 2 can take effect (all the while putting you at risk because if the absence of drug 1).

A pharmacist or doctor might be able to tell you how long it takes for C to leave your body. But all the while, the effective window of MAP is reducing.

In your shoes, I'd seek an emergency coil fitting.

[TattieHowkerz]

I got pregnant on carbamazepine and the pill! Shocking I wasn't warned, but DD is cute enough to make up for it But different circs, we were ready for a baby.

I'd consult the pharmacist, also consider getting a coil as advised above.

[MummaV]

In your shoes I'd go straight to a pharmacy and ask the pharmacist, if they can't give you a completely straight answer go to your local family planning clinic and get a coil fitted today. One or the other should be effective.

[TattieHowkerz]

Don't stop your carbamazepine! That's crazy. Anyway it builds up in your system, so it wouldn't be an effective approach.

[CandlesAreBurning]

Don't take advice from the internet about stopping anti-epilepsy medication.
Go to a chemist today and speak to the pharmacist who can advise these things, if it won't work then emergency appointment at GP tomorrow. Don't stop taking your medication.
I'm presuming you're on regular folic acid as well, as all women on anticonvulsants should be of child bearing age. And make an appointment with a different GP to talk about long term contraception or your epilepsy nurse

[AnchorDownDeepBreath]

No, you'd need to wait at least a few days for the carbamazepine to leave your system and by then the morning after pill would be useless. The pharmaceutical guide recommends as least 10 days between stopping carbamazepine and starting hormonal contraception, and for the first cycle, using a barrier method too.

I think you're going to need an emergency coil, but do see a pharmacist this morning to see if there are other options if that doesn't appeal for whatever reason.

[WoodliceCollection]

You can get an IUD (either hormonal or just copper) fitted up to I think 5 days after contraceptive failure to prevent pregnancy, so there is an option even if MAP won't work. (I've had the opposite- got IUD removed 5 days after unprotected sex, ended up pregnant, but was ok with that).

However, MAP contains a massive dose of hormones compared to normal contraceptive pills, so might work anyway. You need to see a pharmacist today - there will be an emergency one in your area, check NHS website, then GP tomorrow morning if you might need an emergency IUD fitting (also possible from family planning clinics as an emergency if you have one locally). Good luck!

[KateSpade]

I've never been told to take folic acid why do I need to, out of interest?

I've just been on epilepsysociety.org & they've said I need to take double the dose of MAP but it will still work,
So I'm off to boots shortly!

I'm going to get the Depo injection as contraception, as NHS website says it is unaffected by other medications, does anyone have any experiences with that?

[SmallLegsOrSmallEggs]

Definitely do not stop your carbemezapine.

Do go for emergency contraception.

Also ask GP if you can get to speak to someone who can explain the carbemezapine effects to you properly
It actually increases the effects of some meds.

[KateSpade]

It's ridiculous I haven't been explained this by my consultant or GP!

But I will go & see my GP & ask him to explain the effects of this medication! I'm only on 400mgs so not loads, but enough to make me feel consistently tired!

[CurbsideProphet]

I take Carbamazepine and have a Coil. I am so shocked at these Consultants not telling women that Carbamazepine interacts with hormonal contraceptive and reduces their effects

[CurbsideProphet]

I was encouraged to see the specialist Epilepsy Nurse to discuss contraception. You can also look on the Epilepsy Action website as they have a lot of clear information about contraception, including emergency contraception.

[KateSpade]

Yeah, I quite like epilepsy action! I couldn't believe it either, I was so shocked, I asked why no-one had ever told me this before and few other questions!

[TudorTrace]

OP, if your last two periods were the 28th (given I don't know the length of your cycle here), I'd say you're at quite a high possibility of an unplanned pregnancy.

Get the coil fitted if you don't want to be pregnant, I'd say make an appointment with your GP too, a pharmacist won't give you any answers on this one.

[Ataraxy]

You can have a morning after pill with Carbamazepine but it needs to be a specific type. There are types of pill you can take (mini pill rings a bell) but you will have to take it at a much higher dose.

Don't stop taking the carbamazepine as it works by building up in the blood system. You'll put yourself at risk of fitting.

Good news is that if you do want a child in the future it is an anti-epileptic drug that won't effect the pregnancy (although you will need prescription folic acid).

Bad news. If you haven't already discovered Carbamazepine makes the liver work harder. You will find yourself becoming more and more intolerant to alcohol.

[KateSpade]

I have been told that the carbamazepine does affect the fetus? ataraxy

I have been and had a double dose of the MAP, the pharmacist said that a double dose should work, but if I haven't had a period within four weeks, take a pregnancy test!

Will the MAP delay my period at all, does anyone know?

Thank you for all the advice and fingers crossed for a period!

[TattieHowkerz]

Good luck Kate.

For future ref, you are right, Carbamazepine does carry increased risks, but on a low dose like 400mg these should be fairly small. It is definitely one of the better anticonvulsants for this. I take 5mg folic acid all the time to help offset risks.