A recent study published in Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, highlights a potential risk for people with epilepsy who use certain hormonal contraceptives. The research, conducted by Laura Kirkpatrick, MD, found that 32.6% of individuals prescribed hormonal birth control were also taking antiseizure medications that could reduce contraceptive effectiveness. This study, published on October 7, 2026, shows the importance of understanding these interactions to prevent unintended pregnancies, especially given the increased health risks during pregnancy for people with epilepsy.
Epilepsy, pregnancy, and medication interactions
The study focused on 21,923 people with epilepsy who were prescribed hormonal contraceptives, including combined oral contraceptive pills, progestin-only pills, patches, vaginal rings, and implants. Researchers identified 7,154 cases where these contraceptives overlapped with enzyme-inducing antiseizure medications like carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, and topiramate. A total of 7,154 people, or 32.6%, had at least one time of 14 days or longer when a contraceptive and an antiseizure medication overlapped. On average, the overlap lasted about seven months.
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Contraceptive choices and informed counseling
“It is important for people with epilepsy to know that not all forms of contraception are affected by these medication interactions,” Kirkpatrick said. “With informed counseling, people can choose a contraceptive method that aligns with their preferences and health needs. Our study did not look at pregnancy outcomes or determine whether participants experienced contraceptive failure, so more research is needed to better understand the real-world impact of these overlapping prescriptions.” A limitation of the study was that prescription records do not show whether participants took medications as prescribed. The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health.