Elisabeth Mahase The BMJThe epilepsy drug sodium valproate, which carries a risk of birth defects when taken during pregnancy,1 was prescribed to 247 patients in England during their pregnancy from April 2018 to September 2021, figures show.2However, the number of patients given valproate during pregnancy has declined in the past few years, falling from 86 in the year to September 2019 to 65 the following year and to 46 in the year to September 2021. The data, published by NHS Digital, showed that 23 patients were started on sodium valproate during their pregnancy in the past three years, meaning that they had not had it prescribed in the previous 12 months. The risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in children when sodium valproate is taken during pregnancy is estimated to be 30-40%, in addition …

Source: The Times April 21, 2022 10:40 UTC