The Valproate Families: The stories of the families affected by Sodium Valproate in Ireland
Major concerns are being raised about the Irish State’s failure to set up an inquiry into a drug that caused serious birth defects and developmental delays in at least 1,200 Irish babies.
Sodium valproate, a drug used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder, has been estimated to have caused major malformations in up to 341 Irish children between 1975 and 2015 after it was taken by their mothers during pregnancy.
The drug, which is sold in Ireland as Epilim, is also believed to have caused neuro-developmental delays in 1,250 children.
Many women were never warned of the risks that taking the drug during pregnancy would pose to their babies.
Source: The Irish Independent