Intake of Epilepsy Drug at Pregnancy Linked to Lower IQ in Children

Filed in archive Cases , Studies , Treatment on May 12, 2007

Women who were on epilepsy drugs such as carbamazepine, lamotrigine, phenytoin, or valproate while pregnant are more likely to give birth to children with lower IQ.

• On IQ levels: 24 percent of the children of mothers who took valproate showed an IQ in the mental retardation range, compared to 12 percent for carbamazepine, nine percent for lamotrigine, and 12 percent for phenytoin.


• On an IQ test, children whose mothers took carbamazepine scored an average of 93 points, compared to 93 for those who took phenytoin, 96 for lamotrigine, and 84 for valproate.

Such were the findings of a recent study of a team from University of Florida in Gainesville, FL.

According to study author Kimford Meador, MD, a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology:

"Further studies are needed to confirm these findings, examine IQ at older ages, and to determine the risks for other epilepsy drugs.

However, our findings are consistent with other studies, which have shown valproate poses an increased risk for fetal death and birth defects, and have suggested the drug may harm cognitive development."

Okay, we all know for a fact that pregnant women are not supposed to take medicines to lessen the harm on the growing baby in her belly. Aside of course from the many vitamins (folate, iron, Vitamin B-complex) prescribed to pregnant women, I can only remember being allowed to take Biogesic® (paracetamol), in case I run a fever.

So imagine if a woman has a condition that would put her into constant strong medication. Say, epilepsy. She must really weigh her options of bearing a child, considering the effects of managing her condition (i.e. medications) to her unborn child.

In this particular study, it was also found that the children's IQ was related to their mother's IQ for every epilepsy drug except valproate.

Valproate is an important treatment option for epileptic women who cannot use the other epilepsy drugs.

In lieu of these findings, valproate should not be used as a treatment option for women of child bearing potential, the authors concluded.

These findings were presented at the recent American Academy of Neurology's 59th Annual Meeting in Boston.

Read the full report.