Men on epilepsy drug may have higher risk of children with disabilities

Men who take the epilepsy drug sodium valproate could beat increased risk of having children with disabilities, research has found.

A study ordered by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has suggested a link between fathers taking the drug three months before babies are conceived and a small increased likelihood that the children will have neurodevelopmental disorders.

The drug manufacturer Sanofi has not published the full results, leading to confusion among patients and doctors.

Sodium valproate, sold in the UK as Epilim, is prescribed to treat epilepsy, bipolar disorder and migraines. It is known to cause deformities in one in ten babies exposed to it in the womb because their mothers are taking the drug. Four in ten babies suffer developmental delays.

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Source: The Times, 2 July 2023