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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Women who took the epilepsy drug valproate while they were pregnant may have children with a lower IQ.
New research from the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida looked at the IQ scores of 187 two-year-old children whose moms took the epilepsy drugs carbamazepine, lamotrigine, phenytoin or valproate during pregnancy.
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The study found 24 percent of the children of mothers who took valproate had an IQ in the mental retardation range. For those who took carbamazepine or phenytoin, it was 12 percent, and 9 percent for children whose moms took lamotrigine. Results also show lower IQ scores in children who had higher levels of valproate in their blood.
Researchers say more studies are needed to confirm their findings, but the results are consistent with other studies that show the drug increases the risk of fetal death and birth defects, and may also hurt cognitive development.
"Although valproate remains an important treatment option in women who aren't able to use other epilepsy drugs, valproate should not be used as the drug of first choice for women of childbearing potential, and, when used, its dosage should be limited if possible," study author Kimford Meador, M.D., from the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, was quoted as saying.
He recommends doctors talk with their patients about valproate's risks.
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, which offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, click on: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
SOURCE: American Academy of Neurology's 59th Annual Meeting in Boston, April 28 -- May 5, 2007
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