Essential Reads: Prenatal Valproate Exposure and Risk of Autism in Children
Prenatal exposure to valproic acid was associated with an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder in exposed children.
Essential Reads: Modafinil and Armodafinil During Pregnancy Associated with Increased Risk of Malformations
Modafinil (brand name Provigil) and armodafinil (Nuvigil) are wake-promoting agents used to treat sleepiness due to narcolepsy, shift work sleep disorder, or obstructive sleep apnea. They are also used in other settings, often in [...]
Prenatal Exposure to Valproic Acid Linked to Increased Risk for Autism, ADHD
Prenatal exposure to valproate has been associated with an elevated risk (10%) for a broad range of congenital malformations including neural tube defects, as well as adverse neurodevelopmental sequelae, including lower IQ and developmental delays [...]
Prenatal Valproic Acid (Depakote) Exposure Increases Risk for Neurodevelopmental Disorders
While we have considerable information regarding the teratogenic risk associated with prenatal exposure to various antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), we have considerably less information on the impact of exposure to AEDs on behavioral outcomes in [...]
Clinical Update 2020: Lamotrigine (Lamictal) and Pregnancy
Clinical Update 2020: Lamotrigine (Lamictal) and Pregnancy 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 [...]
Maternal Anxiety and Adverse Perinatal Outcomes: Why We Need to Screen Women for Anxiety During Pregnancy
When providing information to patients regarding the use of medications during pregnancy, one key element of the decision-making process is an appraisal of the risks associated with untreated psychiatric illness in the mother. While there [...]
Lithium and Anticonvulsant Mood Stabilizers: No Higher Risk for Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes
For women with bipolar disorder, choosing whether to maintain or discontinue treatment with a mood stabilizer during pregnancy is challenging. This is a process which requires careful and thoughtful consideration, weighing the risk of adverse [...]
Opioid Exposure During Pregnancy, Long-Term Effects on Children’s Development
According to a recent analysis of national data by the Centers for Disease Control, the number of pregnant women with opioid use disorder (as documented at the time of delivery) more than quadrupled from 1999 [...]
Benzodiazepine During Early Pregnancy and Risk of Miscarriage
Many women who come to our clinic with questions regarding the use of medications during pregnancy suffer from some type of anxiety disorder. Most of those women benefit from treatment with an SSRI or SNRI [...]
Anti-Epileptic Drugs in Reproductive Age Women: Valproic Acid and Topiramate Commonly Used
There have long been concerns regarding the safety of the anticonvulsant valproic acid (Depakote) during pregnancy. Back in 2009, the American Academy of Neurology and American Epilepsy Society recommended against the use of valproic acid [...]