Is there a link between seizures and Birth Control Pills?

[Lee12740]

My healthy 20 yr. old daughter was taken Ocella Birth Control Pills for 2- 3 months when she began experiencing severe headaches. She would take Tylenol, and eventually the headache would go away. At the time we did not make the relation between headaches and birth control pills. One particular day she complained of a headache, pain in her right shoulder/arm, blurry vision in her right eye, and she couldn't remember certain things that normally she remembered. After taking Tylenol and sleeping a few hours, she woke up, still didn't feel right and laid back down. A few minutes after that she had a grand mal seizure. (First seizure ever). Rushed to the hospital by ambulance. She had 1 seizure in ambulance, 2 more in the ER. Cat Scan showed nothing. She was put on seizure medication, but seizures continued. She was also given bacterial and fungal medication, in case of encyphillitis, etc., Ran every possible test imaginable, all came back negative. Spinal Fluid showed elevated white blood cells. Doctors could not figure out what was causing her seizures. Seizure medication was changed, but seizures continued. She was put into a medicated coma to try and stop the seizures, but seizure activity continued. She passed away 6 weeks later. 3 days befor her 21 birthday. No one gave us answers as to what had caused her seizures. Her death occured in the hospital, and it was listed as a natural death. She did not drink, smoke or do drugs. She was a healthy young girl with her entire life ahead of her. The only medicine she was taken was the birth control pill, Ocella. She was overweight, and at times showed signs of high blood pressure, otherwise healthy. I want to know if there is any relation between seizures and birth control pills.  Any information is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[lpettengill]

I had a similar experience as your daughter. I was on a form of Yasmin or Ocella for approximately four years. About two years into being on the medication I had an incident where I experienced shooting pain in my forehead, numbness in the right side of my body and blurred vision. I was rushed to the hospital where they did a series of CAT scans and MRIs but found no abnormalities. We also did not make the connection between the situation and birth control but it was the only medication I was on at the time. Two years later I stopped taking the medication and shortly after that I experienced my first Grand Mal seizure. I have been on anti-epileptic medication since but still no doctor has been able to find any abnormalities in my brain. It's been several months since my last grand mal seizure but I still experience auras in the week leading up to my cycle. I have been researching constantly to find answers. I see your post was put up several months ago. How is your daughter doing now?

[ggreg]

Actually there are lawsuits going on right now, where people have died on this particular birth control pill, from a variety of problems, including seizures.  Apparently blood clots are the biggest problem, but I have indeed read about this seizure thing, too.  There is also something about making too much calcium in the blood on that BC pill, too.  If you will do a general search from your home page, just type in the words "ocella" and "seizures" with whatever else you want to, but those two words will bring up lawsuits, drug sites that mention the headache thing, detailed pharmaceutical warning stuff that says seizures, the list goes on and on.  I am SO sorry to hear about this terrible family tragedy, and after seeing for myself some information on the issue of this drug ocella (generic for Yasmin), it appears there is a possibility the birth control brought your daughter down, particularly since that was the only thing she was doing differently when all this started.  It's a scary thing that medicines can do this to people, I just wonder how well these things are tested and so forth.  I suppose there are risks with all drugs, but gee whiz, I don't think death should be one of them!!!  I wish you the best in getting some help on this issue.