The BBC Reports that women taking a powerful epilepsy drug are not aware that it could cause physical abnormalities and learning disabilities in their babies.
Sodium valproate, commonly known as Epilim, is estimated to have affected 20,000 babies in the UK since the 1970s due to their mothers taking it during pregnancy. Yet a survey of women with epilepsy found that 68% of them had not received warnings known as the Valproate Toolkit, launched in February 2016, after the European Medicines Agency instructed all national watchdogs to improve information.
The Epilepsy Society now wants Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt to order GPs to have face to face consultations with women taking the drug to warn them about possible risks. The charity also wants to set up a national register of women taking it.
If you are at all worried seek the advice of your GP. View Valproate Patient Guide .
