Scientists map use of epilepsy drug in England and Wales linked to birth defects

Scientists have created a unique map of England and Wales that reveals detailed variations in the use of a single medicine. The drug is sodium valproate, a treatment for severe cases of epilepsy that is also known to cause health problems for pregnant women.

The findings show drops in the use of the drug, in response to warnings about its effects, but the map reveals clear differences in dispensing patterns to women of child-bearing age, with the highest rates being found in local authorities in the north-west and across coastal regions in the east. These variations highlight potential inequalities that need further investigation, the researchers warn.

Valproate is an important drug for treating epilepsy and bipolar disorder, but it has also been linked to miscarriages, birth defects and cases of conditions such as ADHD and autism.

The medicines regulator, MHRA, said in 2016 that babies exposed to sodium valproate in the womb had a high risk of serious developmental disorders. About 20,000 children in the UK are estimated to have life-changing injuries caused by valproate. In addition, studies have suggested that children of men who take the drug have an increased risk of neurological disorders.

“This is the first time we have been able to combine different sets of health data and understand how a particular medicine is used in the population,” said the research’s team leader, Reecha Sofat, professor of clinical pharmacology and therapeutics at the University of Liverpool. “The fact that we succeeded suggests we could provide benefits to the health service by understanding, at a granular level, how medicines are being used by people in different areas.”

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Source: The Guardian, 21 December 2024