Carbamazepine and POP pill

[Adora12]

I'm not sure what group to write this in but does anyone know about the interactions with carbamazepine and desogestrel. I'm taking the pop pill to stop my periods as they are horrendously heavy and painful. Now I'm about to start Carbamazepine for Trigeminal Neuralgia, I'm wondering if because the efficacy is decreased will that also make my periods come back.. Stupid question perhaps, I don't know how it all works!

[Bevvy]

The best person to advise you is your pharmacist. They know all about cause and effect of different medications. They will be either able to put your mind at rest or give you information to go back to your doctors with, in regards to alternatives.

[perregrine]

Carbamazepine is known to reduce the efficacy of progesterone only pills. The literature's main concern is unplanned pregnancy which means you might experience ovulation which results in menstruation when the egg is not fertilised.

I wouldn't worry about potential inefficacy before it has even happened. I'd probably still use a barrier method for contraceptive purposes though.

If it does happen, IUDs and contraceptive injections are supposedly not affected but can also prevent menstruation so you're most likely not out of options.