Study: Epilepsy Drug Adds Birth Risk

Pregnant women who take the epilepsy drug topiramate may increase their newborn's risk of birth defects, especially if they combine the drug with other epilepsy medications, according to a small study in this week's Neurology. Scientists who evaluated 203 women who became pregnant while taking topiramate, generic for Topamax, reported that of 178 babies born, 16 had major birth defects, including cleft palate and other malformations. Three of the 16 babies born with defects had mothers who were taking only topiramate, and the 13 others had mothers on topiramate and other anti-epilepsy drugs. Four of the babies were born with cleft palates or cleft lips, a rate 11 times higher than normal. Four male babies had genital birth defects, 14 times higher than the normal rate, says study author Jim Morrow, consultant neurologist and... [read full story]