Question
Should epilepsy patients be concerned about the effects of medication on the fetus during pregnancy?
Answer
Research shows that certain antiepileptic medications may increase the risk of fetal malformations, especially Western medicine, with a teratogenic rate between 2.2% and 13.8%. Common malformations include cleft palate, cleft lip, and heart defects. Risk factors include the mother’s age, family history, medical history (such as diabetes), and the type of medication. To reduce the risk, it is recommended to use traditional Chinese medicine, and ensure that epilepsy symptoms are controlled within three years, and the mother’s age does not exceed 35 years. Families with a history of malformed inheritance should consider not having children, and patients with a history of miscarriage, stillbirth, or abnormal neonatal births should be particularly cautious.