- The ARC - California Edition -

Epilepsy Drugs & Birth Defects

Researchers have reported finding that when women with epilepsy used anticonvulsant drugs during their pregnancy they are more likely to have a child with a distinctive pattern of physical birth defects. The study focused on 316 babies who had been exposed while in the womb to one or more anti-seizure drugs. 

Major physical malformations, including small head, growth retardation or abnormalities of the fingers and face, were found in 4% of the babies that had been exposed to one type of drug during pregnancy. This increased to over 8.6% of the infants physically damaged when exposed to two or more types of anti-seizure drugs. 

There were 98 babies in the study whose mothers had chosen to quit taking anti-seizure drugs when they became pregnant. None of these babies had any major birth defect. 

A control group was used that consisted of 500 babies. They were babies whose mothers did not have a history of seizures and had not been exposed to anticonvulsant drugs. The control group exhibited a 1.8% incidence of major birth defects. 

Anti-seizure drugs include phenobarbital or phenytolin (Dilantin), carbamazepine (Teg-reto), and valproic acid. 

Epilepic women of pregnancy age should seek the advice of their physician prior to conceiving a child. This study indicates that the maternal consumption of anti-seizure medications during pregnancy can significantly increase the risk of having a child with a serous birth defect.

(The Teratogenicity of Anticonvulsant Drugs, Lewis B. Holmes et al; NEJM 4/12/2001)