Can you take seizure medication and be pregnant at the same time?


Question:
I take Zonegran for seizures and I want to get pregnant. Every doctor has a different answer for me. Anyone in the same situation?

Answers:
Here's what I found, but you should really consult your OB/GYN. "tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking zonisamide, call your doctor. Zonisamide may harm the fetus."
Here's a good article from the Epilepsy Foundation. These are the highlights:
Both your neurologist and your gynecologist/obstetrician need to be involved in reviewing your antiepileptic drug (AED) and any potential medication changes prior to the beginning of a pregnancy.
Most women with epilepsy should continue their seizure medication, and whenever possible, take a single AED at the lowest dose that provides seizure control.

I knew a mother who was on Depakote and had a seizure while pregnant and her son was perfectly fine.

Other Answers:
Yes.

You need to find one doctor and stick with him. Not familiar with the exact drug, but my wife was taking Dilantin for seizures, and stopped for the pregnancy. She has never taken it since, and my daughter is 13 now.

But I agree, get with a neurologist you trust in concert with your OB/GYN and move forward. You can have both. Some seizure medications can lead to certain birth defects in babies if taken during the first three months. Taking high doses of folic acid prevents some of these defects, particularly neural tube defects. It is important to discuss before becoming pregnant what drugs are safe for you to take during pregnancy. The opinion of the OB-GYN is probably the best opinion to respect.




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