Epilepsy drugs and pregnancy

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P_Sharp

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My wife's doctor is thinking of putting her on Depakote to help manage her seizures. We've been thinking about starting our family so we are doing some research and found it may be linked to birth defects like autism.

Does anyone know anything more about it?
 
There have been plenty of discussions regarding that topic. just use the search button at the top of the page and key in your words.

I would recommend you tell her neurologist your plans to have kids and ask him direct. If he says dont worry about, but gives no other response I would request a different drug
 
Hi P_Sharp, Welcome!

You should check out these links: http://www.epilepsy.com/medications/b_depakote_pregnancy
http://professionals.epilepsy.com/medications/p_depakote_pregnancy.html

One of the things your wife should do is to take folic acid -- it's very important for all pregnant women, but especially important for pregnant women taking AEDs. You should make sure that your wife's neurologist and OB/GYN are on the same page in terms of monitoring a pregnancy and making any medication adjustments as needed.
 
Thanks for the welcome, Nakamova and thanks to both of you for the help! The links were really useful. :)
 
I believe Depakote is a US Pregnancy Cat D drug like Tegretol. Meaning it has a high risk of birth defects. I'm not a nuero, but my wife has been almost on all of them. Right now she's almost 2 months along and taking Lamictal, which is a Cat C. No drug is 100 percent safe, but the Lamictal is the lesser of the evils.
 
Hi dumbspouse. Glad to meet someone in the same boat.

I just saw an article about people suing the makers of Depakote because of birth defects.
 
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