Suffer with Epilepsy? You NEED to read this!

The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued a statement regarding a drug, which is widely prescribed to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorders.

The drug has been linked to thousands of birth defects and has now been banned in Britain for use in women or girls of child-bearing age, unless they are on a special pregnancy prevention program.

If you’re trying to conceive or are pregnant, and suffer with epilepsy or bipolar disorder – you should check with your GP that you’re not on this medication asap. Depakine (used to treat epilepsy) and Depakote and Depamide (used to treat bipolar), are all branded forms of the drug Valproate – but there are generic versions available too.

While the drug has proven to be an effective treatment for the conditions, there has been public outrage that people were not properly informed of the risks to unborn babies.

As a result, women must now comply with contraception throughout treatment, undergo pregnancy testing if asked and sign a form acknowledging the risk of taking the drug every year.