National compliance with UK wide guidelines for usage of valproate in women of childbearing potential

Valproate is used for treatment of epilepsy and bipolar disorders. It is the most effective treatment for generalised or unclassified epilepsy [1]. However, exposure to valproate in utero is also associated with substantial teratogenic risks, including major congenital malformations (around 10%) [2], cognitive (30-40% exposed have significant reduction of IQ [3] and neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder [4]. This has led to the introduction of measures to reduce the use of valproate in women of childbearing potential.

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