Essential Reads: Why All Women of Reproductive Age Should Take Folic Acid
Folic Acid Awareness Week (Sept 13-19, 2026) focuses on the importance of daily folic acid supplements for women to prevent birth defects, as diet alone is often insufficient.
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 [...]
Hispanic Women at High Risk for Neural Tube Defects, May Not Have Adequate Dietary Folic Acid
Because folate deficiency in pregnant women has been associated with an increased risk of neural tube defects, including anencephaly and spina bifida, it is recommended that all women take folic acid supplements before and during [...]
Neural Tube Defects and Low Carb Diets During Pregnancy
 Because folate deficiency in pregnant women has been associated with an increased risk of neural tube defects, including anencephaly and spina bifida, it is recommended that all women take folic acid supplements during pregnancy. [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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). Â While all recognize that all women of childbearing age should receive [...]
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: