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Antiepileptic Medication and Oral Contraceptive Interactions:A National Survey of Neurologists and Obstetricians
Neurol 46:1534-1539, Krauss,G.L.,et al, 1996
See this aricle in Pubmed

Article Abstract
Hepatic enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs(AEDs)lower oral contraceptive (OC)sex hormone levels approximately 40%and increase the risk of unplanned pregnancies in woman with epilepsy.AEDs also increase the risk of birth defects in offspring of women with epilepsy.Only 4%of the neurologists and none of the obstetricians,however,knew the effects of the six most common AEDs on OCs,even though 27%of neurologists and 21%of obstetricians reported OC failures in their patients taking AEDs.Although increasing OC doses can compensate for insufficient OC sex hormone levels due to AEDs, most physicians do not increase the doses.Even though the risk of birth defects for the offspring of women with epilepsy 4 to 6%,up from the background level of 2%,44%of neurologists thought the risk was lower(-to 3%),and some of the respondents guessed that it was as high as 50%.Many neurologists and obstetricians do not have accurate information to counsel women with epilepsy properly about their contraceptive and pregnancy choices.
 
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anticonvulsants
anticonvulsants,effectiveness
anticonvulsants,untoward effects of
drug interactions
efficacy
enzyme,induction
oral contraceptives
seizure,women

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