title: Prescribing in pregnancy. Epilepsy in pregnancy.
abstract: In women with epilepsy, seizure control during pregnancy can be improved by maintaining the serum anticonvulsant drug concentration within the therapeutic range. Treatment with one anticonvulsant drug plus folic acid supplementation 5 mg per day seems appropriate in most cases. This should be achieved before conception whenever possible. No anticonvulsant drug seems free of teratogenic risk. With the commonly used anticonvulsant drugs-phenytoin, phenobarbitone, carbamazepine and sodium valproate-the risk is relatively low and represents less potential harm to the fetus than might occur with uncontrolled seizures.
mesh_terms: D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000209:etiology; D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000209:etiology; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000209:etiology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006827:Hydantoins / Q000009:adverse effects; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000209:etiology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006475:Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D006827:Hydantoins