Anti-Epileptic Drugs

Antiepileptic Drugs and Pregnancy: The Good,The Bad, and The Ugly

EURAP is an international registry for antiepileptic drugs and pregnancy.  At its inception in 1999, it included only European countries but EURAP has grown and now includes 42 countries from Europe, Australia, Asia, South America. [...]

By |2025-06-26T09:07:47-04:00May 1st, 2018|Anti-Epileptic Drugs, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications, Risk of Malformations|Comments Off on Antiepileptic Drugs and Pregnancy: The Good,The Bad, and The Ugly

Higher Doses of Topiramate (Topamax) During Pregnancy, Increased Risk of Oral Clefts

Topiramate (TPM, marketed as Topamax) is an antiepileptic drug which is also used for migraine prophylaxis, weight loss, and, less commonly, as a mood stabilizer.  Over the last few years we have seen several studies [...]

By |2018-01-09T11:32:37-04:00January 9th, 2018|Anti-Epileptic Drugs, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications, Risk of Malformations|Comments Off on Higher Doses of Topiramate (Topamax) During Pregnancy, Increased Risk of Oral Clefts

France Bans the Use of Valproic Acid in Some Women of Childbearing Age

There have long been concerns regarding the safety of the anticonvulsant valproate (Depakote) during pregnancy.  Back in 2009, the American Academy of Neurology and American Epilepsy Society recommended against the use of valproic acid in [...]

By |2017-08-11T08:57:58-04:00August 7th, 2017|Anti-Epileptic Drugs, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications, Risk of Malformations|Comments Off on France Bans the Use of Valproic Acid in Some Women of Childbearing Age

Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal) and Pregnancy: Do We Have Enough Information?

  Last week in clinical rounds we discussed a case of a woman with bipolar disorder who was planning a pregnancy.  She had a long history of illness, experiencing primarily depressive episodes since her early [...]

By |2025-06-26T09:07:54-04:00June 7th, 2017|Anti-Epileptic Drugs, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications, Risk of Malformations|Comments Off on Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal) and Pregnancy: Do We Have Enough Information?

Why Are We Still Using Valproic Acid (Depakote) in Women of Childbearing Age?

  There have long been concerns regarding the use of the anticonvulsant valproate (Depakote) during pregnancy.  First trimester use of valproate has been associated with a 3-5% risk of neural tube defects, as well as [...]

By |2020-11-26T08:28:56-04:00May 22nd, 2017|Anti-Epileptic Drugs, Pregnancy & Medications, Risk of Malformations|Comments Off on Why Are We Still Using Valproic Acid (Depakote) in Women of Childbearing Age?

Lamotrigine and Pregnancy: Meta-Analysis Shows No Increase in Risk for Malformations

  Maintenance treatment with a mood stabilizer during pregnancy can significantly reduce the risk of relapse in women with bipolar disorder; however, many of the mood stabilizers commonly used in this setting, including lithium and [...]

By |2025-06-26T09:07:02-04:00May 8th, 2017|Anti-Epileptic Drugs, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications, Risk of Malformations|Comments Off on Lamotrigine and Pregnancy: Meta-Analysis Shows No Increase in Risk for Malformations

More Data on Pregabalin (Lyrica) and Pregnancy

Pregabalin (marketed in the US as Lyrica) is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of epilepsy, fibromyalgia, and neuropathic pain.  It is also used off-label to treat psychiatric disorders, most [...]

By |2017-05-02T15:49:43-04:00May 2nd, 2017|Anti-Anxiety Medications, Anti-Epileptic Drugs, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications, Risk of Malformations|Comments Off on More Data on Pregabalin (Lyrica) and Pregnancy

Prenatal Antiepileptic Exposure Increases Risk for Malformations: Does High-Dose Folic Acid Reduce Risk?

The CDC, the U.S. Public Health Service, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) all recommend that every woman of reproductive age get 400 micrograms (400 mcg) or 0.4 milligrams of folic acid [...]

By |2016-10-24T09:32:36-04:00October 24th, 2016|Anti-Epileptic Drugs, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications, Risk of Malformations|Comments Off on Prenatal Antiepileptic Exposure Increases Risk for Malformations: Does High-Dose Folic Acid Reduce Risk?

You Asked: What Dose of Folic Acid for Pregnant Women Taking Lamotrigine (Lamictal)?

In our community of perinatal psychiatrists, we have recently seen many questions regarding the use of folic acid supplementation in women taking lamotrigine (Lamictal).  While all recognize that all women of childbearing age should receive [...]

By |2025-06-26T09:07:03-04:00July 28th, 2016|Anti-Epileptic Drugs, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications, Risk of Malformations|Comments Off on You Asked: What Dose of Folic Acid for Pregnant Women Taking Lamotrigine (Lamictal)?

Should We Just Say No? Valproic Acid and Women of Childbearing Age

  There have long been concerns regarding the use of the anticonvulsant valproate (Depakote) during pregnancy.  First trimester use of valproate has been associated with a 3-5% risk of neural tube defects, as well as [...]

By |2016-06-16T23:14:25-04:00June 16th, 2016|Anti-Epileptic Drugs, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications, Risk of Malformations|Comments Off on Should We Just Say No? Valproic Acid and Women of Childbearing Age
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