Valproate is a risk for pregnant women and their unborn babies
For years, doctors have known that when pregnant women took the antiseizure medication valproate, which is the second-most-popular antiseizure medication, their unborn children face an increased risk of developmental delays and major malformations.
Now, a study published in the April 16, 2009 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine found that pregnant women who took valproate, sold generically as Depakote, had children whose I.Q. scores were significantly lower than those whose mothers took a different antiseizure medication. Of the nearly 300 children who were studied, they had I.Q. scores that were six to nine points lower than average at age three. The higher the dosage of valproate a woman had taken, the lower the I.Q. of the child.
Valproate is also widely used to treat migraines, pain, and psychiatric disorders, and about half of the women who take valproate do not have epilepsy.
If you are taking volproate and are pregnant or trying to get pregnant, please talk to your doctor as soon as possible. Do not stop taking your medication – this can be very dangerous. The good news is that with careful thought and proper medical care - as we have posted here - more than 90 percent of pregnant women with epilepsy give birth to normal, healthy babies!
Tags: Depakote, effects of epilepsy drugs on fetus, epilepsy and pregnancy, epilepsy medication, epilepsy medication research, epilepsy medication risks, epilepsy medication study, side effects of epilepsy medication, valproate