Birth control and Topamax

Hi there,

I suffer from a binge eating disorder now, but for some years I was anorexic. I was at a healthy weight for about 6 months before slipping back into the binge eating disorder. I want to go on Topamax because it is said to help binge eating, but my psychiatrist won't prescribe it because it makes you lose your appetite and he is afraid I will fall into anorexia again...

So, I went online and bought it from an overseas pharmacy without a prescription.

Now I am worried that when I start it it may interfere with my birth control - - something I hadn't thought about before.

What birth control should I be taking to counterbalance Topamax? Right now I'm on the Yaz pill....

I know most of your responses will be that I shouldn't be on an Rx drug without an Rx and my doctor's knowledge, but I have already made up my mind that I will be taking the Topamax. So, please, any recommendations for birth control?

[Hellen J Kim]

You really shouldn't be on a drug that your doctor doesn't recommnend, but you should be honest with your doctor, including what medications you are taking.  Your doctor needs to know that you are taking Topomax (topamax) even if you continue to get it from an overseas pharmacy.  That way he/she can monitor for side effects and drug interactions such as birth control pills.

Topomax (topamax) lowers the estrogen levels in the body and therefore, makes birth control pills and all hormone based contraception less effective.  You choices for birth control are condomns, diaphragms, and non-hormone based IUD's.  You should discuss alternative forms of birth control with your doctor and also be honest about taking Topomax (topamax).  He/she will not judge you nor can they make you stop, but they can make sure you are safe and not doing something that is harmful.