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Epilepsy affects 1 million U.S. women of reproductive age, but interactions between antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and hormonal contraceptives remain largely unelucidated. In a randomized study, researchers assessed the effects of carbamazepine on efficacy of a combination oral contraceptive (COC) in healthy women. In a second report, authors reviewed hormonal contraception in women who use AEDs.
In the trial, 25 healthy women who took monophasic 20-µg ethinyl estradiol (EE) plus 100-µg levonorgestrel (LNG) for 4 months received carbamazepine (titrated to 600 mg daily) or placebo for 2 months and were then crossed over to the other study arm for the remaining 2 months. Women documented spotting or bleeding and regularly underwent measurement of …