An anti-epileptic drug that causes babies’ health problems when taken by pregnant women is still being given to patients without safety warnings, they said.
Former Health Minister Jeremy Hunt has called for an “immediate solution” to sodium valproate, which has been linked to physical malformations, autism and developmental delays in many children when taken by their mothers during pregnancy.
In 2013, the European Medicines Agency recommended restrictions on prescribing the drug, which is also used to treat bipolar disorder and severe migraines. But many medics were unaware of the advice and continued to offer the drug.
Jeremy Hunt has called for an end to the prescribing of sodium valproate to expectant mothers. Photo: Tayfun Salcı / ZUMA Press Wire / REX / Shutterstock
A review published in 2020 estimates that 20,000 Britons have been exposed to the drug as developing babies. The latest data show that 222 pregnant women received sodium valproate in 2018-21, according to the Regulatory Agency for Medicines and Health Products. It also states that the level of exposure has been declining since the introduction of the pregnancy prevention program, and the levels in 2020-21 are “significantly lower”.
An NHS spokesman said she had set up an expert group to help reduce the drug’s use in women who could become 50% pregnant next year.
The Sunday Times reported that Hunt said: “It is unbelievable that after so many warnings, this is still not settled. This is a serious risk to patient safety and ministers must order immediate adjustments to prevent more avoidable damage. “
The newspaper said the medicine was still given without a leaflet with information about the patient’s safety inside.
The Ministry of Health said: “Patient safety is a priority and we take all reports on this issue very seriously.
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