The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 276 No 7387 p160
11 February 2006

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Antiepileptics in pregnancy

Major congenital malformations (MCMs) occur in as little as 4.2 per cent of newborns exposed to antiepileptic drugs in utero (Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry 2006;77:193). Antiepileptic polytherapy was associated with a higher rate of MCMs than monotherapy, and regimens containing sodium valproate resulted in significantly more MCMs than those not containing the drug. Exposure to carbamazepine monotherapy was associated with the lowest risk of MCM, the researchers found.