more emphasis to avoid valproate during pregnancy
January 2010
See the March 2011 FDA alert concerning the increased risk of cleft lip/palate with use of topiramate during pregnancy.
We've known about this problem for years...but not enough women are getting the message. And valproate is being used more in young women for mood disorders and migraines...in addition to seizures.
Major birth defects are about 4 times higher with valproate than with other antiepileptics. And the risk of neural tube defects is increased from 1 in 1500 babies to 1 in 20 babies exposed to valproate.
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