The anti-epilepsy drug is still being prescribed to pregnant women in the UK despite the fact that it can cause birth defects. How big is the problem with the drug?
In some cases, injections can be used to treat the condition, and in some cases, it can be given as a liquid, capsule, tablets, or even as a liquid. It can also be prescribed to people with headaches. Epilim and Dyzantil are brands that contain sodium valproate.
If taken by pregnant women, it can cause birth defects, such as cleft palate, limb defects and heart problems. foetal valproate spectrum disorder is a pattern of outcomes.
The Cumber Review flagged that children with FVSD may have different facial features.
In some cases, the developmental difficulties they experience may also meet the criteria for other diagnoses, according to the report.
The number of pregnant women prescribed the drug declined by 51% between the years of the collaboration between the MHRA and the NHS Digital.
In a single month in which they were pregnant, there were more than 200 women who were prescribed the drug.
There are 136 women who had a prescription stopped in their first trimester, 98 who had a prescription continued, and nine who were prescribed the drug in the month they were expected to deliver their baby.
The team behind the registry says that not all pregnancies will result in a birth.
According to the Cumberlege review, 20,000 people in the UK had been affected by in-utero exposure to sodium valproate.
The review states that 10% of unborn children are likely to develop birth defects while 40% will have a delay in development.
The system doesn't know where all the children with valproate are, or how to contact them to get the proper diagnosis and assessment of their care needs.
In order to prevent the drug from being given to pregnant women, a number of measures have been taken.
Women and girls must always use effective contraception while taking the drug, with patients and their healthcare professional needing to sign a risk acknowledgment form every year, according to the valproate pregnancy prevention programme.
If you have to split a pack, make sure you give every patient with the statutory patient information leaflet.
The Valproate Safety Implementation Group was set up after the Cumberlege review, with initiatives including sending a letter to all women and girls aged 12 and over who have a current prescription for sodium valproate, to flag the risks posed to unborn babies.
According to the latest data from the Medicines and Pregnancy Registry, some pregnant women are still being prescribed the drug despite the fact that it is not accompanied by information leaflets or warnings on boxes.
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