Book contents
- Women with Epilepsy
- Women with Epilepsy
- Copyright page
- Epigraph
- Contents
- Contributors
- Chapter 1 Epidemiology of Women with Epilepsy
- Chapter 2 Neuropsychiatric Issues for Women with Epilepsy
- Chapter 3 Sleep-Related Comorbidities in Women with Epilepsy
- Chapter 4 Hormonal Influences in Women with Epilepsy
- Chapter 5 Antiseizure Medications and Hormones
- Chapter 6 Genetic Epilepsies in Females
- Chapter 7 Gender Issues in Childhood- and Adolescence-Onset Epilepsies
- Chapter 8 Catamenial Epilepsy
- Chapter 9 Fertility in Women with Epilepsy
- Chapter 10 Contraception and Prepregnancy Counseling
- Chapter 11 Teratogenicity and Antiseizure Medications
- Chapter 12 Seizure Management in Pregnancy
- Chapter 13 Obstetric and Fetal Monitoring in Women with Epilepsy
- Chapter 14 Neuroimaging in Pregnancy and Epilepsy
- Chapter 15 Obstetrical Anesthesia
- Chapter 16 Postpartum Seizure Management and Safety Issues for Women with Epilepsy
- Chapter 17 Breastfeeding and Use of Antiseizure Medications
- Chapter 18 Management of the Neonate
- Chapter 19 Aging, Menopause, and Bone Health in Women with Epilepsy
- Index
- References
Chapter 11 - Teratogenicity and Antiseizure Medications
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 19 December 2024
- Women with Epilepsy
- Women with Epilepsy
- Copyright page
- Epigraph
- Contents
- Contributors
- Chapter 1 Epidemiology of Women with Epilepsy
- Chapter 2 Neuropsychiatric Issues for Women with Epilepsy
- Chapter 3 Sleep-Related Comorbidities in Women with Epilepsy
- Chapter 4 Hormonal Influences in Women with Epilepsy
- Chapter 5 Antiseizure Medications and Hormones
- Chapter 6 Genetic Epilepsies in Females
- Chapter 7 Gender Issues in Childhood- and Adolescence-Onset Epilepsies
- Chapter 8 Catamenial Epilepsy
- Chapter 9 Fertility in Women with Epilepsy
- Chapter 10 Contraception and Prepregnancy Counseling
- Chapter 11 Teratogenicity and Antiseizure Medications
- Chapter 12 Seizure Management in Pregnancy
- Chapter 13 Obstetric and Fetal Monitoring in Women with Epilepsy
- Chapter 14 Neuroimaging in Pregnancy and Epilepsy
- Chapter 15 Obstetrical Anesthesia
- Chapter 16 Postpartum Seizure Management and Safety Issues for Women with Epilepsy
- Chapter 17 Breastfeeding and Use of Antiseizure Medications
- Chapter 18 Management of the Neonate
- Chapter 19 Aging, Menopause, and Bone Health in Women with Epilepsy
- Index
- References
Summary
Approximately one-half million women with epilepsy are of childbearing age in the United States, and three to five births per thousand will be to women with epilepsy. However, when considering indications for neuropathy, pain, and other neurological and psychiatric disorders, the total number of children exposed in utero to ASMs is considerably greater. The goal during pregnancy is to keep a balance between seizure control and the potential teratogenic risks of antiseizure medications (ASMs). It is always important to remind patients that over 96% of pregnancies in WWE have good outcomes. The teratogenic effects of ASMs vary based on the specific moment of exposure during pregnancy. ASMs exposures during the embryonic phase of pregnancy leads to congenital malformations. Based on the exact week and the specific drug used, different malformations affecting different organs are seen. Exposures that last throughout the entire pregnancy can affect cognitive and behavioral development. Pregnancy registries have been developed all over the world to better understand the effects of ASMs. Studies on cognitive and behavioral development are more laborious and fewer. Overall studies agree on the fact that Valproate acid (VPA) the most teratogenic ASM as it pertains to major congenital malformations and cognitive and behavioral issues as well. Those effects seem to be dose dependent. VPA should be avoided in women of childbearing age when possible. ASMs with better teratogenic profile are lamotrigine and levetiracetam. More data on newer ASMs are still needed to assess their safety in pregnancy. The use of folic acid is recommended in WWE. It reduces the risks of malformations and recent studies have confirmed its positive effect on cognitive and behavioral development.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Women with EpilepsyA Practical Management Handbook, pp. 191 - 214Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2025