Epilepsy drugs can decrease fertility

The use of anti-epileptic drugs can curb sex hormone levels, decrease fertility and increase reproductive disorders. Epilepsy, antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), and reproductive endocrine function have complex interactions. There have been various side effects associated with the use of antiepileptic drugs such as carbamazepine and valproate. Very often, these drugs have been found to interfere with the reproductive function of men and women. To investigate the possible side effects of anti-epileptic drugs on the sex hormone levels, researchers at the National Centre for Epilepsy in Lorenskog, Norway randomly assigned a group of patients to continue either carbamazepine or valproate or to go off these medications for 12 weeks. These individuals had to have been seizure-free for at least 2 years before entering the study. Those randomised to withdrawal, had their antiepileptic dose reduced by 20 percent over the first 6 weeks, and by a further 20 percent over the subsequent weeks. The results showed that after withdrawal from carbamazepine or valproate, sex hormone levels returned to pre-treatment levels, and treatment-related reproductive hormone changes reversed. Moreover, women who went off these medications experienced a decrease in body mass. These findings provide further evidence of the potential side effects of anti-epileptic drugs on the reproductive endocrine functions in men and women,