The progestogen-only pill (the mini-pill) - lamotrigine

Last updated 05 Jul 2010, review date due 05 Jul 2012

The following information applies to you if you take lamotrigine.

Research on a small group of women has shown that lamotrigine may make the mini-pill work less well. This would make you more at risk of an unplanned pregnancy.

If you choose to take the mini-pill, your doctor may advise you to use condoms as well, until they can be sure that the mini-pill would prevent you from getting pregnant. The doctor can check this by giving you blood tests at certain times of the month. The blood tests would show if the mini-pill has stopped you from ovulating (releasing an egg), which would mean that you can’t get pregnant.

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.