Anti-convulsive, anti-epileptic medications

Content written by Sheryl A. Kingsberg, PhD

Anti-convulsive and anti-epileptic medications are central nervous system agents utilized with the goal of inhibiting brain activity to prevent unwanted seizure activity. In the process of achieving this appropriate therapeutic goal, these inhibitory medications act to inhibit sexual activiy including sexual libido, sexual arousal, lubrication and orgasm. Often women who suffer from seizures are placed in a dilemma of needing pharmacologically controlling seizure activity with potent inhibitors that pharmacologically reduce sexual function. A woman may be put at risk for seizures if, in an effort to reduce the unwanted sexual dysfunction, she decreases the dose or discontinues critical central nervous system inhibitory medication that otherwise controls seizure activity. Conversely, prescribing a central nervous system excitatory medication to improve sexual function may act to promote seizure activity. Individualized sexual health care with frequent patient-physician communication is required to both maximize desired sexual function and minimize seizure activity.