ARE ANTIEPILEPTIC DRUGS HARMFUL WHEN TAKEN DURING PREGNANCY

According to recent experiences There are no specific teratogenic effe cts of antiepileptic drugs in humans. Polytherapy is associated with m alformations more often than monotherapy. This does not apply to minor anomalies. Concerns regarding neural tube defects because of intraute rine valproate - or carbamazepine - exposure can be met by taking a ca reful history regarding individual or family predisposition to defects or anomalies dividing the daily dose into several single doses folate supplementation prior and during pregnancy antenatal monitoring. Thos e minor anomalies (hypertelorism, distal digital hypoplasies), which m ay possible be induced by antiepileptic drugs harmonize or dissappear during further development. Most minor anomalies, small body measureme nts, small head cicumferences and cognitive dysfunction are not caused by ingestion of antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy.