epilepsy drug taken during pregnacy may affect IQ

Midgie · epilepsy drug taken during pregnacy may affect IQ

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/16...ch/16child.html?_r=1&emc=eta1

Research shows that children born to mothers who took a particular anti-seizure drug had a 9 point (on average) lower IQ than children whose mothers took a different anti-seizure med.

PixieSnowBunny

I wouldn't have thought that 9 points was all that much really. And to be honest, those who have epilepsy have enough to deal with day to day without some idiots saying that the drugs they take to control it will make their children less clever than others.

Midgie

I think the main point of the article is to highlight the fact that two other epilepsy drugs yielded higher IQ results than the one. I believe this scientific research would be helpful for doctors and patients when trying to decide which anti-seizure meds would be appropriate for a woman who is considering pregnancy. All to often, findings such as these do not reach those of us who have epilepsy. The information stays with the scientists and the doctors where we have to trust and depend on them to make our decisions for us.

If those of us who are having to live with the consequences of the medications could know important details such as these, then we become empowered to make our own decisions concerning what we will or will not risk when trying to find a control for our seizures.