Birth Defects Linked to Valproic Acid
6 Birth Defects More Common in Pregnant Women Who Take Epilepsy Drug
Counseling Women Before Pregnancy continued...
The study also provides information on the specific birth defects that are increased in the offspring of women with epilepsy who took the drug during their first trimester, she says.
“It is necessary to discuss these risks with women prior to pregnancy,” she tells WebMD. “I tell all my patients to try and switch to a safer medication because these birth defects can have a huge impact on a child’s life.”
“It is prudent and necessary for us to try and find another medication to control epilepsy or bipolar disorder among women of childbearing age,” she says. “There are several medications that we can choose from, and almost any other medication will be a safer option for the developing fetus."
The good news is that more than 90% of women with epilepsy will have normal, healthy infants, according to the Epilepsy Foundation.
Fully half of all pregnancies are unplanned, Pennell says. This conversation needs to take place as soon as a woman hits puberty and continue through all of her childbearing years.
Depakote Manufacturer Responds
Depakote is manufactured by The Abbott Laboratories in Abbott Park, Ill.
“The risk of birth defects associated with valproic acid is well known and clearly stated in Depakote's medication labeling,” says Abbott spokeswoman DeAnna DuBose.
“Because both the seizures themselves and the medications used to treat those seizures pose risks, it is crucial that women who are pregnant or may become pregnant work extensively with their physicians to balance the importance of seizure control with any potential effects of epilepsy therapy,” she says.