The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 273 No 7321 p550
16 October 2004

This article
Reprint   Photocopy

  Acrobat Reader

News summary

Pharmacists can reassure women who have epilepsy

Most women with epilepsy who continue to take antiepilepsy drugs are likely to have normal pregnancies with good outcomes, according to Hannah Cock, consultant neurologist at St George’s Hospital medical school, London. “Pharmacists can reassure them about this.” Dr Cock was speaking after publication of data highlighting the potential for developmental problems in the offspring of women exposed to antiepilepsy drugs.

The study showed that IQ scores for children exposed to valproate were lower than for other therapies (Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry 2004;75:1575).