News

A new study on sodium valproate by two leading British academics reveals that patients should have been informed about the drug’s risks during pregnancy as far back as 1990.

Dr Carl Heneghan and Dr Jeffrey Aronson of the University Of Oxford have published a paper entitled “Sodium valproate: who knew what and when? Cumulative meta-analysis gives extra insights.”

The paper researches various sodium valproate studies in the UK and abroad from 1983 to 2014.

Ireland Rugby Coach Joe Schmidt made a surprise appearance along with his wife Kelly at the book launch of 'Beautiful Thoughts For Beautiful Minds' in St Patrick’s Cathedral yesterday evening. Also in attendance was Epilepsy Ireland Patron, Rick O’Shea.

Ireland Rugby Coach and Epilepsy Ireland supporter Joe Schmidt, has been awarded with an Honorary Fellowship of the RCPI Faculty of Paediatrics for his advocacy work for epilepsy services.

FutureNeuro, the SFI Research Centre for chronic and rare neurological conditions based at RCSI, has announced its partnership with Irish Cloud solution provider Ergo to enhance crucial eHealth infrastructure in Ireland and provide improved monitoring for people living with epilepsy.

A study published in the Irish Medical Journal has found that the prevalence of epilepsy in seven psychiatric inpatient units in Ireland was three times that of general population estimates. The prevalence of epilepsy in the general population is approximately 1% but the study has found that nine of a total of 267 patients (3.4%) in the participating psychiatric inpatient units had a diagnosis of epilepsy.

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.

A senator is calling for an independent inquiry into sodium valproate (Epilim) – an epilepsy drug linked to birth defects. Rose Conway-Walsh, (Sinn Fein), told The Times Ireland Edition that a "do-nothing" approach was not acceptable.

A new study carried out in University of Queensland (Australia), has discovered that protein found in spider venom could help scientists creative an effective medication for the treatment of Dravet syndrome.

The condition is unable to be treated by conventional medicine but a team of researchers may have found a treatment with spider venom.

Epilepsy Ireland is saddened to announce the death of Gerry Tobin while taking part in the Annual Tour De Gaggs cycle, an annual fundraiser on behalf of Epilepsy Ireland.

Yesterday's decision by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve Epidiolex for the treatment of two rare and severe forms of epilepsy is a landmark moment not just for people with epilepsy in the US, but in Ireland and around the world as well.

Epidiolex is a liquid formulation of purified, plant-derived cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive component of the cannabis plant.