Epilepsan Use In Pregnancy & Lactation

Use in Pregnancy: The use of Valproic Acid in pregnancy has not been proven safe. Valproic Acid is used in pregnant woman with seizures or woman with seizure who will get pregnant, only if this drug is needed in seizure management. Antiepileptic drugs should not be stopped in patients where the administration of these drugs with the aim of preventing the occurrence of more severe seizures because of the possibility of accelerating the occurrence of status epilepticus in the presence of hypoxia and can be life threatening. In individual cases where the severity and frequency of seizures are such that drug withdrawal does not pose a serious threat to the patient, drug withdrawal can be considered before and during pregnancy, although it is not certain that mild seizures are not harmful to the embryo or fetus.
Doctors are expected to consider this or provide counseling to women who suffer from epilepsy and have the potential to become pregnant.
Use in Lactation: Valproic acid is excreted in breast milk. Concentrations in breast milk are reported to be 1-10% of the concentration in serum. There is no known effect of the drug on breastfeeding babies. Be careful if Valproic Acid is given to nursing mothers.