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 activity including sexual libido, erection, orgasm and/or ejaculation. Often seizure patients are placed in a dilemma of needing pharmacologically controlling seizure activity with potent inhibitors that pharmacologically reduce sexual function. A man may be put at risk for seizures if, in an effort to reduce the unwanted sexual dysfunction, he 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.