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Folic Acid is Essential for All Women of Reproductive Age

Last week was National Folic Acid Awareness Week at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), so this seems like a great time to remind women (and their caregivers) of the importance of folic acid in the prevention of birth defects. By taking the recommended dosage of folic acid daily, women will reduce the risk of neural tube defects by 50% - 70%. In addition, women who take folic acid supplements are less likely to give birth to a child with an autism spectrum disorder.

By |2018-06-09T17:45:25-04:00January 19th, 2015|Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy, Risk of Malformations|Comments Off on Folic Acid is Essential for All Women of Reproductive Age
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Avoid Valproic Acid in Women of Reproductive Age

The European Medicine Agency (EMA)'s Pharmacovigilance and Risk Assessment Committee recently recommended strengthening the restrictions on the use of valproic acid in women of reproductive age.  Over the last few years, we have seen a host of articles documenting the deleterious effects of valproic acid on the developing fetus:

By |2015-04-03T13:19:35-04:00January 16th, 2015|Anti-Epileptic Drugs, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications, Risk of Malformations|Comments Off on Avoid Valproic Acid in Women of Reproductive Age
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Levetiracetam (Keppra) and Pregnancy

While it is well-established that several of the older anticonvulsants, including valproate (Depakote), carry a significant teratogenic risk, less is known about the reproductive safety of the newer antiepileptic drugs (AEDs).  A new report from the U.K. and Ireland Epilepsy and Pregnancy Registers suggests that the risk of malformations associated with levetiracetam (LVT, Keppra) use during pregnancy is low.

By |2025-06-26T09:08:11-04:00November 4th, 2013|Anti-Epileptic Drugs, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications, Risk of Malformations|Comments Off on Levetiracetam (Keppra) and Pregnancy
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More on Topiramate (Topamax) and Risk of Oral Clefts

Earlier this year we reported on a possible association between first trimester exposure to topiramate (Topamax) and increased risk of cleft lip and palate.  In a recent study published by the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, researches drew upon data from two birth defect databases to further delineate the risks associated with topiramate exposure.

By |2015-08-12T12:17:18-04:00August 13th, 2012|Anti-Epileptic Drugs, Mood Stabilizers, Pregnancy & Medications, Risk of Malformations|Comments Off on More on Topiramate (Topamax) and Risk of Oral Clefts
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