Epilepsy in pregnancy: Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics

What is it about?

After headache, epilepsy is the second most common neurological disorder encountered in pregnancy. Epilepsy is one of the most common chronic neurological conditions in the world with an estimated 50 million people affected worldwide. Many pregnant women with epilepsy have well controlled seizure activity due to antiepileptic drugs, as the use of antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy is challenging due to maintaining the balance between the benefits for the mother in seizure control and the risks to the fetus from the teratogenic effects of antiepileptic drugs. This paper will specifically discuss the effects of Sodium Valproate and Lamotrigine which are currently prescribed for seizure control in pregnancy, and the effects of these antiepileptic medications on the pregnant woman and her fetus.

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