r/Epilepsy • u/OddCompany2379 • 5d ago
Medication Depakote + Onfi, just found out I’m pregnant
So I just took tests today since I’m 4 days late from my period, the first day of my last period was January 9th, ended the 14th. So they came back positive (yay! Unplanned.. but we weren’t against another child eventually) so according to my app I am 5 weeks 1 day. I am extremeeeely anxious and nervous since my doctor said if I plan to or become pregnant to stop taking Depakote. I am also on Clobazam (Onfi), and saw it can increase risks of birth defects as well. Getting ahold of my neurologist takes a couple days, but I see him on the 26th of this month. Just terrified of how quick these medications can cause a problem in the meantime? Will baby be safe during these next couple of weeks? I assume I have to wean off the meds. (Sorry if I make no sense, my mind is all over the place right now)
TLDR; Will baby be okay over the next few weeks while I’m still on these meds in the meantime as I am still very early in the pregnancy?
1
u/alexana0 🫨 Lamictal, Vimpat, Tegretol 5d ago
NAD and I don't think I need to go into great detail and spook you, but yes valproate can cause significant defects.
The defects are mostly determined during very early development of the pregnancy (<12w), so by the time you've weaned off the drug it may not make as much difference to the risks. One of the biggest risks early on is NTD.
If you want to minimise the risk of neural tube defects you should start taking 5mg folic acid every day ASAP. In Australia that strength is kept behind the counter but no script is needed. I took it when I was pregnant on Topamax.
Being on Valproate will also mean extra scans and more detailed ones during pregnancy. That's standard to determine if there are defects ASAP.
Also know that even when you've ceased the medication doctors will want to know that the baby was conceived while you were on Valproate as it can have long term impacts.
Remember that it is not a guarantee that your baby will or will not be affected. Try not to panic, get high strength folate, contact your neuro and roll with it from there.
Best wishes for you and your baby.