Epilepsy & Pregnancy

[katty1]

Hi - i wonder if anyone has any information on the above drug Sodium Valproate - (Epilim 200mg) and pregnancy.?

I am a thirty nine year old woman i have taken valproate 200mg x2 tabs in the morning and 2 tabs at night since i was ten years of age for petit mal seizures which were infrequent between the ages of ten years to twenty years (probably had in total about 6 seizures) between those ages.. There seems to be a relation to puberty and the times that i did experience seizure/absence ect would be leading up to or very close to a period...or time i was very overtired at college (age 20) or related to stress emotional upset (once or twice)..but almost certainly a hormonal link.

I would very much like to have a child but i understand it is not advisable to go ahead and do this whist taking this medication and would certainly see my dr. there has been some differing opinions regards Valproate whilst speaking to a Gynae Consultant she explained that she had delivered/seen many women who have had ...she used the terminology "Valproate Babies" ...and explained everything if fine and said that there was no reason not to go ahead and do this. There is no history of epilepsy in my family father mother grandparents ect but i have read various articles and indeed watched a tv programme on mothers who had children whilst taking this medication after being told it was fine to do so only to discover that their children were experiencing some developmental problems of varying degrees. I understand that i take a relatively low dosage of Epilim but nevertheless it is a epilepsy medication and i am concerned about pregnancy and its use and effects especially as i have taken it for such a long period of time, the reason being as i was stable with no fits since 20 years of age and single but busy working social life the drs and i felt not to interfere with it and carry on taking it rather than risk stopping it and waiting to see what happened. But as far as im aware it was puberty related and they do think i have "grown " out of it . I will of course see my dr as soon as trying nfor a child to stop/wean off or change medicaton but do worry about the years i havce taken valproate and how long it is advised to wait between stopping it and trying for a child?. I would be most grateful for any information on Sodium Valproate and pregnancy. Thanking you