This information is for women who take clobazam, clonazepam, ethosuximide, gabapentin, lacosamide, levetiracetam, pregabalin, retigabine, sodium valproate, tiagabine, topiramate (less than 200mg each day), vigabatrin or zonisamide.
Types of planned contraception that may work well for you
- Combined oral contraceptive pill (the Pill)
- Contraceptive implants
- Contraceptive patches
- Depo-Provera contraceptive injections
- Noristerat contraceptive injections
- Vaginal rings
- Condoms
- Diaphragms and caps
- Femidoms
- The coil
- The Mirena coil
Types of planned contraception that may work for you (but there are extra things to consider)
- Progestogen-only pill (the mini pill)
The mini-pill only works well if you take it according to the instructions from your doctor. This usually means taking it at the same time each day. If you don’t, there is a risk that you will get pregnant.
Types of planned contraception that are not recommended for any woman with epilepsy
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Natural birth control methods
Types of emergency contraception that may work well for you
This information is for women who take clobazam, clonazepam, ethosuximide, gabapentin, lacosamide, levetiracetam, pregabalin, retigabine, sodium valproate, tiagabine, topiramate (less than 200mg each day), vigabatrin or zonisamide.
- Levonelle (‘morning after’ pill)
- EllaOne (‘morning after’ pill)
- The coil
We can provide references and information on the source material we use to write our epilepsy advice and information pages. Please contact our Epilepsy Helpline by email at helpline@epilepsy.org.uk.
Epilepsy Action would like to thank Dr Margaret Jackson, Consultant Neurologist at Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle, UK and Janine Winterbottom, Epilepsy Specialist Nurse at The Walton Centre, Liverpool, UK for their contribution to this information.
Dr Margaret Jackson and Janine Winterbottom have no conflict of interest to declare.
This information has been produced under the terms of The Information Standard.
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Updated July 2012To be reviewed July 2014
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