I wanted to tell women with BP2 about possible interactions you may have with the Contraceptive Pill and Lamotrigine. I had been taking the Pill for about 18 months and found it more and more difficult to manage my BP2. In the past my highest dose had been 250mg and my BP2 was very effectively managed (in conjunction with exercise, diet and meditation) but i was experiencing severe mixed moods and rapid cycling - alternating between depressed mood and hypomania at least twice a day. It was completely exhausting. I'd read that there could be interactions between the two medications making each less effective. I asked my Psychiatrist about it but he decided to try increasing the lamotrigine first.
My psychiatrist ordered blood tests at 250mg and found my levels after 10 hours were 2.8 (rather than between 7 & 8 as they should have been). We increased the dose 25mg each fortnight. At 300mg my levels after 10 hours increased to 3.3, still not even half the right level for me. At 350mg a month later it was 3.8. i was at my wits end - up and down, up and down multiple times per day. By the way, I was still exercising each day for an hour at the gym, eating a healthy diet and practising meditation and mindfulness - doing everything i could to have some balance while holding down a stressful job.
Finally one day I experienced overwhelming paranoia and a frightening attack of rage - thankfully I didn't turn it on myself or anyone else - just tore some of my beautiful clothes and books to shreds and then i sank into a terrible low. When i felt a little better, in desperation, I decided to stop taking the Pill. I began to feel more balanced in a matter of days. I had a blood test 17 days after stopping the Pill and my lamotrigine levels had risen to 6.8! My doctor was amazed..the link between the two was unmistakable.
I changed to a copper IUD for contraception immediately - no more hormonally based contraception for me. 4 months later and i am so much more balanced!!
If you are suffering badly with your BP and you're using hormonal contraception my advice is to at least explore whether the interaction of the drugs might be the reason.
Good Luck
Joined: 06-09-2017