The recently established Valproate Response project team have written to all female patients currently taking valproate (Epilim) outlining the risks of the drug in pregnancy and the need to discuss treatment with their medical team. These letters have been sent to 3,500 patients and are due to arrive in the post today or tomorrow.
All women prescribed under General Medical Services will be written to, as well as parents of girls aged 8 and upwards. The letters will contain a copy of the new Patient Information Leaflet on Epilim as well as contact details for the HSE's new nurse-led Valproate Patient Support Team [Update Nov 2018 - the nurse-led support helpline has now been closed]. Similar letters will be sent to GPs, naming specific patients on valproate and encouraging them to arrange appointments with patients as soon as possible.
This is a welcome development and we hope that these steps will address the historic information deficit that has existed for many years in relation to valproate risks.
Further Information
- Contact Epilepsy Ireland 01 455 7500 or email info@epilepsy.ie.
- HPRA
- HSE Valproate page or contact HSE Live at visit www.hse.ie/hselive
- European Medicines Agency
- If you took Epilim during a previous pregnancy and are concerned about your child, please get in touch with OACS Ireland (Organisation for AntiConvulsant Syndrome) or visit their Facebook Group
- Contact your prescriber or your Hospital Epilepsy Helpline service
DO NOT STOP TAKING VALPROATE WITHOUT FIRST SPEAKING WITH YOUR PRESCRIBER.