OurHealth

New research coming out of England shows that women who take the seizure medicine, Valproate - brand names Depakote and Depakeneare - are more likely to have children with Autism. The study looked at 296 children of women with seizures. 7 out of 64 children born to women on valproate developed Autism. This was significantly more than found in children born to women taking other seizure medications. And higher than the rate of Autism in the general population. If you are currently taking Valproate and are pregnant or trying to become pregnant please speak with your doctor about this new research. Do not stop taking your seizure medication on your own. Valproate is not just used for seizure disorders - it is also sometimes used to prevent severe chronic headaches or to treat various psychiatric conditions. Interestingly, in 2007 valproate was linked with lower IQ levels in children of mothers who took Depakote. The Epilepsy Society of America is also reporting this story but has not yet issued recommendations. We will update this article once official recommedations are made. -From the OurHealth Writing Team