Is it safe to take seizure medication while pregnant?

Is it safe to take seizure medication while pregnant?

Medication you take during pregnancy can affect your baby. Birth defects — including cleft palate, neural tube defects, skeletal abnormalities, and congenital heart and urinary tract defects — are a few potential side effects associated with anti-seizure medications.

What epilepsy medications are not safe during pregnancy?

Valproate (sodium valproate, brand name Epilim) Medicines containing valproate (sodium valproate and valproic acid) can seriously harm the unborn baby if taken during pregnancy. If 100 women take valproate medicines during their pregnancy, about 10 of the babies will be born with physical birth defects.

Is it safe to take Keppra while pregnant?

Recent studies carried out by the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM), looking at the risks associated with commonly prescribed AEDs shows that lamotrigine (Lamictal) and levetiracetam (Keppra) are safer to use during pregnancy than other AEDs, having low rates of physical birth abnormalities, in line with the …

Can seizure medication cause miscarriage?

Overall the data is reassuring. This large, registry based study suggests that women treated for epilepsy with antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy may not be at increased risk of spontaneous abortion.

Can your baby have seizures in the womb?

Can babies have seizures in the womb? It is thought that foetal seizures, or seizures in the womb, are very rare. They can have many causes and may also be associated with a poor outcome. It is reasonable to assume that a baby who has seizures in the womb will have neurological complications after birth.

Is an EKG safe while pregnant?

The ECG is a very safe test and there are no issues with ECGs and pregnancy. The ECG does not involve any radiation or any chemicals into the woman’s body.

Is epilepsy high risk pregnancy?

In women with epilepsy, the risk is doubled to about 4% to 6%, but overall remains low. Risks to the developing baby may be greater when more than one type of medication is used and with a higher dose of medication.

How do you manage epilepsy during pregnancy?

In order to prevent convulsions during labour, proper seizure control should be achieved during the third trimester. Benzodiazepines or phenytoin are found to be effective for seizure cessation during labour and delivery. Phytomenadione should be administered immediately after birth to the newborn.

What can cause seizures during pregnancy?

Eclampsia is a severe complication of preeclampsia. It’s a rare but serious condition where high blood pressure results in seizures during pregnancy. Seizures are periods of disturbed brain activity that can cause episodes of staring, decreased alertness, and convulsions (violent shaking).

How can you tell if your baby is having a seizure in the womb?

Symptoms of neonatal seizures include repetitive facial movements, staring, unusual bicycling of the legs, muscle tightening or rhythmic jerking. Because many of these movements occur in healthy newborns, an EEG may be needed to confirm if a seizure is responsible.

Is it normal for baby to shake in womb?

Babies also sleep up to forty minutes intervals, so may disappear for some time before returning. At times, more unusual movements maybe felt. These include repetitive rhythmic hiccups by the baby, and a sudden “shaking” caused by the baby’s own startle response. Neither of these are of any specific concern.

What is an EKG during pregnancy?

Electrocardiogram: This test may detect arrhythmias, problems with the conduction electrical system or evidence of past heart problems. 24-hour or 48-hour cardiac event monitors: You may need this if you have daily palpitations, fast heart rates or an abnormal heart rhythm.