We have located links that may give you full text access.
Prescription of Sodium Valproate as a Mood Stabiliser in Pregnancy.
Psychiatria Danubina 2017 September
This essay was submitted for the Royal College of Psychiatry's perinatal psychiatry medical student essay prize in 2017. The essay considers the choices available to women with bipolar disorder who become pregnant while taking sodium valproate to treat mania or for mood stabilisation. The implications of three options are considered: to stop all treatment, to switch to a different mood stabiliser or to continue on sodium valproate. The implications for the fetus, on the mother's wellbeing and the ethics of patient choice are discussed.
BACKGROUND: Pregnancy can be especially challenging for women with bipolar disorder, predominantly because of the heightened probability of relapse, potential fetal harm caused by bipolar medication, and a 250-fold risk of puerperal psychosis compared to the general population. Sodium valproate is a known teratogen, and is discouraged in pregnancy, but what choice is open to women who rely on this medication to stabilise their mood?
CONCLUSIONS: The large majority of women of childbearing age with bipolar disorder should not be prescribed sodium valproate as the risks to the unborn fetus far outweigh the benefits of the medication, as other drugs have similar if not better efficacy to stabilize the mother's mood, with lower risks to the fetus. In the small minority of women for whom valproate may be the only effective treatment, she must be fully informed of the teratogenic and neurodevelopmental risks, as well as the ways in which the pregnancy can be managed to reduce such risks.
BACKGROUND: Pregnancy can be especially challenging for women with bipolar disorder, predominantly because of the heightened probability of relapse, potential fetal harm caused by bipolar medication, and a 250-fold risk of puerperal psychosis compared to the general population. Sodium valproate is a known teratogen, and is discouraged in pregnancy, but what choice is open to women who rely on this medication to stabilise their mood?
CONCLUSIONS: The large majority of women of childbearing age with bipolar disorder should not be prescribed sodium valproate as the risks to the unborn fetus far outweigh the benefits of the medication, as other drugs have similar if not better efficacy to stabilize the mother's mood, with lower risks to the fetus. In the small minority of women for whom valproate may be the only effective treatment, she must be fully informed of the teratogenic and neurodevelopmental risks, as well as the ways in which the pregnancy can be managed to reduce such risks.
Full text links
Related Resources
Trending Papers
Challenges in Septic Shock: From New Hemodynamics to Blood Purification Therapies.Journal of Personalized Medicine 2024 Februrary 4
Molecular Targets of Novel Therapeutics for Diabetic Kidney Disease: A New Era of Nephroprotection.International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2024 April 4
The 'Ten Commandments' for the 2023 European Society of Cardiology guidelines for the management of endocarditis.European Heart Journal 2024 April 18
A Guide to the Use of Vasopressors and Inotropes for Patients in Shock.Journal of Intensive Care Medicine 2024 April 14
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app
All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.
By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.
Your Privacy Choices
You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app