好色先生

好色先生

Explore the latest content from across our publications

Log In

Forgot Password?
Create New Account

Loading... please wait

Press Release

EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL 4 PM ET, August 31, 2016

Newer Epilepsy Drugs Taken While Pregnant Not Associated with Lower IQs in Children

MINNEAPOLIS -

Two epilepsy drugs, levetiracetam and topiramate, may not harm the thinking skills and IQs of school-age children born to women who took them while pregnant, according to a recent study. The research is published in the August 31, 2016, online issue of , the medical journal of the 好色先生. However, the drug valproate is associated with lower IQs in children, especially at higher dosages. Valproate, levetiracetam and topiramate are approved by the FDA to treat seizures. Valproate is a commonly prescribed antiepileptic medication, and has been linked to birth defects and developmental problems. Levetiracetam and topiramate are newer drugs, and few studies have looked at their effects on child development and thinking. 鈥淎s doctors move away from prescribing valproate, we need to know about the alternatives for pregnant women with epilepsy,鈥 said study author Rebecca Bromley, PhD, of The University of Manchester in the United Kingdom. 鈥淟ower IQs early on can harm a child鈥檚 educational success for years to come and so it is important that we gain a full understanding about any impact on development these medications may have.鈥 Using data from the UK Epilepsy and Pregnancy Register, the researchers identified 171 women with epilepsy who had a child between the ages of five and nine years old. While pregnant, 42 of the women had taken levetiracetam, 27 had taken topiramate and 47 had taken valproate. A control group of 55 women did not take epilepsy drugs during pregnancy. The researchers performed tests on their children to measure IQ, verbal and non-verbal comprehension and the speed at which they could process visual information. Children of women who took levetiracetam or topiramate did not have reduced IQs or other thinking skills compared to the control group, no matter what dosage of medication their mother took. Children whose mothers took valproate had the lowest IQs of the study. They scored an average of 11 points lower on the IQ test, which has a mean of 100 points. Nine of the 47 children whose mothers took valproate, or 19 percent, fell below the average range on the IQ score, compared to three of the 55 children whose mothers did not take any epilepsy drugs during pregnancy, or 6 percent. 鈥淲hile our findings represent a promising start, larger studies need to be done to ensure that these drugs will not change the thinking abilities of children,鈥 Bromley said. She noted that one limitation of the study is that the pregnancy registry represents only a small proportion of women with epilepsy and the results may not be representative of all women with epilepsy. Bromley also noted that topiramate has been associated with an increased risk of birth defects such as cleft lip and palate. Because few children for each drug were included in the study, the results should be interpreted with caution. The study was supported by Epilepsy Research UK. To learn more about epilepsy, visit .

Brain & Life logo

GET A DOSE OF BRAIN HEALTH

Dive into a wealth of information by visiting Brain & Life庐, where you can explore the freshest updates, tips, and neurologist expert perspectives on brain disease and preventive brain health.


The 好色先生 is the leading voice in brain health. As the world鈥檚 largest association of neurologists and neuroscience professionals with more than 40,000 members, the AAN provides access to the latest news, science and research affecting neurology for patients, caregivers, physicians and professionals alike. The AAN鈥檚 mission is to enhance member career fulfillment and promote brain health for all. A neurologist is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis, care and treatment of brain, spinal cord and nervous system diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, stroke, concussion, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, headache and migraine.

Explore the latest in neurological disease and brain health, from the minds at the AAN at or find us on , , , and .

For More Information*

Email media@aan.com

*While content of the 好色先生 (AAN) press releases is developed by the AAN along with research authors and Neurology® editors, we are unable to provide medical advice to individuals. Please contact your health care provider for questions specific to your individual health history or care. For more resources, visit the AAN's patient and caregiver magazine website, .