Oral contraception in epileptics.

The effect of oral contraceptives on epileptics was investigated by performing clinical examinations and EEG studies on 11 epileptics and 10 normal females of fertile age who received 2 tablets of Lyndiol (5 mg lynestrenol .15 mg mestranol per tablet) dialy for 3 cycles; antiepileptic therapy was continued throughout the study. EEG aggravation was found during 4 of the 9 cycles in the 3 epileptics who experienced clinical seizures during the trial; aggravation of the clinical state was found in only 1 epileptic but this was probably due to a decrease in dose of anticonvulsants before the trial. Unchanged or less abnormal EEG findings were observed in 8 epileptics (87.9% of cycles). Controls retained normal EEG findings and symptoms. It was concluded that Lyndiol failed to aggravate epileptic seizures and could therefore be used sagely for contraception in epileptics with continuation of antiepileptic therapy.