Side-effects of Epilepsy Medication During Pregnancy

Some epilepsy medications used during pregnancy have been linked to an increased risk of severe psychiatric disorders in children.
This is the outcome of an extensive investigation conducted by Aarhus University researchers on 38,000 children of epileptic moms. The findings were reported in the journal JAMA Neurology.

While it has long been known that certain types of epilepsy medication used during pregnancy are associated with an increased risk of birth defects, this new study is the most in-depth examination of children’s mental health to date.

The researchers discovered a concerning association between the antiseizure medicine valproat and the child’s risk of developing a variety of psychiatric illnesses.

Our study shows that four out of ten children born to mothers with epilepsy who had used valproat during pregnancy were diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder before the age of 18, and that the drug was particularly associated with an increased risk of diseases such as autism, ADHD and intellectual disability,” explains Jakob Christensen, a professor at Aarhus University and a consultant at Aarhus University Hospital and one of the researchers behind the study.

According to the study, 42 percent of infants born to moms who used valproate during pregnancy acquired a psychological condition before reaching the age of 18. In comparison, only 31% of children of epileptic moms who did not use antiepileptic medication during pregnancy acquired a psychiatric condition.

The study also found that children whose moms used topiramate or levetiracetam during pregnancy have a higher risk of ADHD and anxiety disorders.

On the plus side, the study found that commonly used medications including lamotrigine, carbamazepine, and oxcarbazepine do not raise the risk of psychiatric problems.

According to Jakob Christensen, the study confirms the existing warning against the use of valproate during pregnancy and also recommends caution with the use of topiramate and levetiracetam.

Our research emphasizes the importance of understanding the potential harmful effects of epilepsy medicine during pregnancy and the continued lack of knowledge about how different types of medicine can affect the child’s psychological development,” he says and continues:

“Our study shows that there is a need for more research and more accurate risk estimates to help pregnant women with epilepsy and their doctors make informed decisions about the use of medicine during pregnancy.”

The study included children born between 1996 and 2017 in five Nordic countries: Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Iceland.

Every year, approximately 400 infants are born in Denmark to moms who took epilepsy medication while pregnant.

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