Pregnant Women Should Not Take Valproate for Migraine Headaches

The drug is now in the FDA's pregnancy category X.

Pregnant women should not use valproate-containing drugs for migraine prevention, the FDA has warned, citing the potential for lower IQ in offspring. The warning includes valproate sodium (Depacon), divalproex sodium (Depakote, Depakote CP, and Depakote ER), and valproic acid (Depakene and Stavzor). Valproate is now in the FDA's pregnancy category X (drugs whose risks clearly outweigh their benefits).

The Neurodevelopmental Effects of Antiepileptic Drugs (NEAD) study showed that children exposed to valproate in utero had lower IQs (by 8–11 points) at age 6, compared with children exposed to other antiepileptic medications (JW Neurol Mar 5 2013). Precisely when during pregnancy valproate exposure can affect cognition is unknown. Women who mus…

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Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD

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RoyaltiesUpToDate

Grant/Research SupportMerck, Mithra, Medicines360

Editorial BoardsContraception; Menopause; Contraceptive Technology Update; OBG Management; Medscape OB/GYN & Women’s Health

Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Grant/Research SupportMerck, Mithra, Medicines360

Editorial BoardsContraception; Menopause; Contraceptive Technology Update; OBG Management; Medscape OB/GYN & Women’s Health

Pregnant Women Should Not Take Valproate for Migraine Headaches

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