sodium valproate medications - Fetal Anticonvulsant Syndrome - FACS - eg Epilim

[Guest guest]

Why are doctors still not warning about the 'new Thalidomide'?

Mother tells how taking an anti-epileptic drug while pregnant

devastated the heath of two of her children

By Jane

19 May 2012

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2146918/Why-doctors-warning-new-Thalid\

omide.html

.....FACS is thought to be caused in the first three months of pregnancy

when an anti-epileptic drug crosses the placenta into the foetus.

Effects depend on the dosage and the drug.

There are three FACS syndromes, each involving different anti-epileptic

drugs and each with their own set of symptoms. In 2010, Epilim was taken

by more than 21,500 women aged between 20 and 39 for epilepsy and other

conditions. It is indicated in 80 per cent of cases of FACS....

FACS is, Dr Turnpenny points out, less dramatic than the missing and

distorted limbs caused by Thalidomide, but the neurological effects are

far worse. 'About ten per cent of foetuses exposed to sodium valproate

will have a major congenital malformation such as cleft palate. Twelve

per cent are likely to be diagnosed with a neuro-developmental disorder.'...

No one is suggesting that women stop taking their anti-epileptic drugs.

'Major convulsive seizures could cause injury to the baby or a

miscarriage, but there are other effective drugs available that are

known to be safe during pregnancy,' says consultant neurologist Dr Jim

Morrow at the Royal Hospital, Belfast.

'If you have epilepsy and are considering having children, see your

specialist and plan two years in advance as it may take this long to

change your drug regime,' adds Dr O'Sullivan.

'If you get pregnant accidentally, we would put you on high-dose folic

acid and treat it as a high-risk pregnancy. There's a good chance the

baby will be fine'....