Women who take anticonvulsant medication during their childbearing years should take folic acid, 1 mg daily, to help reduce the risk of birth defects. It is generally advisable to take this vitamin even if pregnancy is not planned or anticipated. There may also be a benefit to taking general vitamin and mineral supplements. Prenatal vitamins offer a good balance and a high dose of folic acid.

Many anticonvulsant medications reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills or other hormonal means of birth control. If you are taking hormones (birth control pills, depoprovera) for birth control please discuss this with your neurologist and gynecologist.

If you become pregnant, you can expect greater than a 90 percent chance of a good pregnancy outcome. The risk of a major birth defect is about 4-6% in women with epilepsy (about double the rate for women without epilepsy). All anticonvulsant medications commonly used are associated with the occurrence of birth defects; it is unknown if some of the newer anticonvulsant medications carry significant risks of birth defects. There is no "safest" anticonvulsant for a woman who is planning to become pregnant, and none that is more "dangerous." The best medication for a woman anticipating pregnancy is the one which best controls the epilepsy with the fewest side-effects.

It is important for you to discuss any questions or concerns you have about pregnancy and risks of birth defects with your neurologist, and to let your neurologist know BEFORE you get pregnant so additional counseling can be given. If you become pregnant unexpectedly do NOT stop your anticonvulsant medication before discussion with your neurologist.

For a more complete discussion of Women and Epilepsy (including pregnancy, parenting, and menopause) click here