Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility while taking sodium valproate - Brand names: Dyzantil, Epilim, Episenta, Epival

Sodium valproate and pregnancy

Sodium valproate is not recommended in pregnancy, as it can cause birth defects and problems with your child's learning and behaviour.

If there's a chance you could become pregnant while taking this medicine, your doctor will enrol you on Prevent, the valproate pregnancy prevention programme.

If you think you might be pregnant and you're taking sodium valproate, contact your doctor or nurse urgently.

If you're taking sodium valproate for epilepsy or bipolar disorder and you become pregnant, do not stop taking your medicine without talking to your doctor first. This is because your symptoms may get worse.

Your doctor may continue to prescribe sodium valproate, but only if there's no other suitable treatment for your epilepsy or bipolar disorder.

For pregnant women with recurrent migraine your doctor should offer you an alternative treatment to sodium valproate.

For men who could possibly have children, it's important to discuss sodium valproate with your doctor. You and your partner should use contraception while you're taking sodium valproate and for at least 3 months after stopping.

For men who are planning to start a family within the next year, speak to a doctor about your treatment options. Do not stop taking sodium valproate without speaking to a doctor first.

Sodium valproate and breastfeeding

If your baby is healthy, you may be able to take sodium valproate while breastfeeding. Other treatments might be more suitable, but your doctor may still recommend sodium valproate if it's the only medicine that works for you.

Sodium valproate passes into breast milk in very small amounts, and does not usually cause any side effects in breastfed babies.

If there's a chance you could become pregnant while taking this medicine, your doctor will put you on Prevent, the valproate pregnancy prevention programme.

It's important to keep taking your medicine to keep you well. Breastfeeding will also benefit both you and your baby.

It's very rare for breastfed babies to have side effects from medicines you're taking. But it's important to keep monitoring your baby if you're taking any medicine while breastfeeding.

Contact your healthcare professional or call 111 as soon as possible if your baby is:

• not feeding as well as usual, or not putting on weight and developing as you would expect
• unusually sleepy
• behaving differently, for example being irritable
• bruising more easily than usual
• being sick (vomiting), or they have diarrhoea
• showing signs of jaundice, including yellowing of the whites of the eyes and the skin (this may be less obvious on brown or black skin), dark pee and pale poo

If your baby has any symptoms that are not listed, or if you're worried about them, you can also call 111 or contact any healthcare professional.

Carry on taking the medicine, and keep breastfeeding as usual until you've got advice about your baby's symptoms.

It's important not to share a bed with your baby while you're taking sodium valproate.

Sodium valproate and fertility

Sodium valproate can reduce fertility in both men and women.

In men, sodium valproate has been reported to cause infertility. This may get better if you stop taking it. Do not stop or change your medicine without speaking to your doctor, as it may make your condition worse.

In women sodium valproate can change your menstrual cycle, causing delayed or missed periods. Sodium valproate has also been reported to cause polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), though this happens rarely.

Talk to your doctor if you're concerned about how sodium valproate may affect your fertility and pregnancy plans.