Article Text
Abstract
Sodium valproate remains the best drug for idiopathic generalised epilepsy. For men with the latter diagnosis, this is the drug of choice. Sodium valproate has an unacceptably high level of major fetal malformation and also causes learning disabilities in many children exposed to the drug in utero. Women of reproductive age should not normally be offered this drug. There are many women with refractory epilepsy who would benefit from this drug and who are not planning pregnancy. Individualised epilepsy care is the gold standard, not blanket bans on drug choice based on gender.
- epilepsy
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Footnotes
Contributors The idea for submitting opposing views arose following presentations by John Craig and CL.
Competing interests CL has received speaker fees and consultancy fees from UCB Pharma and Eisai.
Patient consent Not required.
Provenance and peer review Commissioned; externally peer reviewed by Sanjay Sisodiya, London, UK.
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