Pregnant Epileptics Face Topamax Dilemma!

A new study suggests anti-epilepsy drug, topiramate elevates the risk of birth defects in the foetus, when taken by a pregnant woman and if taken along with drug called valproate, it simply adds fuel to the fire.

According to the British researchers, the drug topiramate increases the risk of birth deformities by 14 times in women who consume the drug during crucial period of pregnancy compared with women who do not take the drug at all.

The worst part is that the drug is very commonly used by large number of women and usually recommended by doctors as well.

The study conducted on 203 pregnant women— members of the U.K. Epilepsy and Pregnancy Register-- reached the conclusion that there is definitely a link between the consumption of the drug and the emergence of defects in the embryo.

As per the results, out of 203 cases 18 had spontaneous abortions, five had induced abortions and two had stillbirths. 16 women had babies with major birth defects (out of 178 women who gave birth to babies), these 16 cases had taken the drug during the course of their pregnancy, either independently or in combination with other drugs.

However, the scientists and experts assume that the study was conducted on a small scale involving only a handful of women; therefore the results cannot be generalized to rest of the pregnant women.

Dr. Kimford J. Meador of the University of Florida in Gainesville commented, "You can't make any definitive statements from the data."

Somehow, the researchers also content that the findings have not at all surprised them out of their wits because the topiramate drug -- sold by Johnson & Johnson under the brand name Topamax results in birth defects even in case of animals.

Not just Topamax, the study also claims that almost all the anti-epilepsy drugs hinder the reproductive process of the foetus resulting in various birth defects.

In fact the drugs falling under the category called anti-epilepsy drug, puts the baby in an enormous jeopardy.

But shockingly! not taking the drug can have even more deadly influence on the embryo, doctors are helpless and cannot prescribe the epileptic women not to take the drug during pregnancy.

Doctors don’t deny the fact that taking the drug may be risky but this is also another side of the story that not taking the drug can be much more risky than taking the drug, both for the baby and the mother.

Dr. John Craig of the Royal Group of Hospitals in Belfast, Northern Ireland, lead researcher warns those pregnant women who regularly take the drug to stay away from the problem of migraine.

He also raises a red alert as to immediately halt the consumption of this drug, for the ones who are planning to conceive.