What is it about?
In recent years, Valproate has been prescribed for acute and maintenance treatment in bipolar affective disorder (BPAD). In females with BPAD who are prescribed valproate, risks of teratogenicity are of particular concern, and need to be fully considered in the risk-benefit analysis, before prescribing.
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Why is it important?
Keeping in mind the risks of Valproate for women with child-bearing potential, improvements are suggested to the Valproate checklist content to ensure access to contraception is offered to patients along with folic acid prescription.
Perspectives
This an important topic that is underacknowledged in psychiatry. Valproate prescriptions need to be carefully considered within this patient population.
Dr Andrew John Howe
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The Valproate Checklist in a female psychiatric intensive care unit, Journal of Psychiatric Intensive Care, April 2018, NAPICU (National Association of Psychiatric Intensive Care Units),
DOI: 10.20299/jpi.2017.013.
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