Epilepsy drug warning

Published on: 17/10/2017

A study carried out by epilepsy charities Epilepsy Society, Epilepsy Action and Young Epilepsy has found that two-thirds of pregnant women who take the antiepileptic drug sodium valproate said they had not received warnings about the dangers of taking it during pregnancy. The drug carries a 10% risk of physical fetal abnormalities, a 40% chance of autism, low IQ and learning disabilities.

Women who take sodium valporate should receive a “valporate toolkit”, which provides full details on the risks the drug poses to fetuses, but the study revealed that 68% of the women surveyed had not received one.

The Epilepsy Society is calling on the government to immediately prevent women from receiving repeat prescriptions of the drug for more than 12 months without face-to-face consultation with their GP.  Patients are also advised not to stop taking the medication without seeking medical advice.

Dr Virginia Acha, executive director of research, medical and innovation at the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, said: “Patient safety and welfare is a primary concern for everyone in the pharmaceutical industry…For each and every patient, it is absolutely critical that the risks and benefits of medicines are identified, considered and continually monitored.”

If you have any concerns about any medications you are taking, please discuss it with your midwife.

 

To view the research please click here

And for more on this story see RCM article here