Drug Linked to Birth Defects

Ivanhoe Newswire

(Ivanhoe Newswire) Women who take epilepsy drugs while they're pregnant may be putting their children's health at risk.

New research from Ireland finds taking the epilepsy drug topiramate alone or combined with other epilepsy medication during pregnancy may increase the risk of birth defects.

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Previous research has shown many epilepsy drugs raise the chances of birth defects, but topiramate had not been studied much until now. Continuing epilepsy treatment during pregnancy is critical because seizures can harm the fetus.

Results of this study show of 178 babies born, 16 had major birth defects three of the infants' mothers were taking only topiramate; 13 had moms taking topiramate along with other epilepsy drugs.

The study also found four of the babies had cleft palates or cleft lips a rate 11 times higher than in babies whose mothers do not taking epilepsy drugs. Four male babies had genital birth defects two were classified as major defects, which is 14 times higher than the normal rate for this condition.

Researchers found more birth defects in women taking topiramate along with the drug valproate, or valproic acid, than in women taking topiramate and another epilepsy drug. Studies show valproate is associated with a high risk of birth defects.

"More research needs to be done to confirm these results, especially since it was a small study," John Craig, MRCP, Royal Group of Hospitals in Belfast, Northern Ireland, was quoted as saying. "But these results should also get the attention of women with migraine and their doctors, since topiramate is also used for preventing migraine, which is an even more common condition that also occurs frequently in women of childbearing age."

Craig notes, the risk of birth defects may be different for women taking topiramate for migraine, but pregnancies of women exposed to the drug should be monitored.

SOURCE: Neurology, 2008;71

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