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Ask a Pharmacist (Expert Forum)
BC pills vs Mood disorder medication
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Questions in the Ask a Pharmacist Forum are being answered by pharmacists from the drugstore.com™ pharmacy. Topics include: General information on prescription medication, over-the-counter medications, brand drugs, generic equivalents, common uses, drug therapy, drug interactions, possible side effects, travel medications, pill identification and proper disposal of expired, damaged and unusable medications
BC pills vs Mood disorder medication
by bambimom, Jun 25, 2009 09:47AM
My 20 yr old daughter suffers from PMDD and Major Depression with Bipolar 2. She takes Ocella active pills continually for 6 months for menstrual suppression (to get only 2 periods per year), plus she is on Lexapro and Lamictal for her depression and bipolar. She does not have breakthru bleeding (unless she occasionally misses a pill) but gets almost daily cramping, hot & cold flashes, nausea. It appears to be "hormonal" symptoms, yet they started about the time her Lamictal got up to the 150-200mg point. Her moods have been greatly improving, but are still not quite back to normal, tho she is in cognitive therapy and working on coping. We would hate to disrupt the benefits of the Lamictal, but is there a different BC pill she could use to suppress her periods that might not cause the physical side effects? Thank you for any input you can give.
Age
:
20
Sex
:
Female
Weight
:
140
Current Medications
:
Lexapro 10mg
Lamictal 200mg
Ocella BC Pill
Lamictal 200mg
Ocella BC Pill
Medical Conditions
:
Major Depression with Bipolar2
PMDD
PMDD
Doctor's Answer
by Sandra Y, RPh, Jun 25, 2009 10:51AM
, Jun 25, 2009 10:51AM
Abdominal pain occurring with the use of contraceptives can indicate gallstones or gallbladder obstruction. Abdominal pain and loss of appetite occurring with the use of combined hormonal contraceptives can indicate hepatitis (and elevated hepatic enzymes), hepatoma (benign liver tumor), or pancreatitis.
Depending on the severity of the cramping, discuss your concerns with her doctor to determine if further tests are needed.
Depending on the severity of the cramping, discuss your concerns with her doctor to determine if further tests are needed.
