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Birth Control Shouldn’t Give You Seizures

Age: 36–45  ·  Duration of use: 1–6 months  ·  Current status: No longer taking
Symptoms: Seizures

Shortly after starting the Mirena® (levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system) IUD I started having seizures. At first it was just one, then I realized the seizures kept occurring every time I got my period, a condition called catamenial epilepsy.

I stopped the birth control but the seizures kept on. It took me 5 years to find a medication combo to stop them.

Seizures are a known side effect but because they aren’t statistically significant, that doesn’t have to be included on the warning.

Has a prescribed medication affected your life?

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