Epilepsy medication affected Sophie’s pregnancies. Should Australia adopt tougher guidelines?

Exclusive: FoI documents show Advisory Committee on Medicines considered tightening prescribing requirements for sodium valproate – but chose not to

More than 100 pregnant women have been exposed to medication for epilepsy and bipolar disorder which carries a high risk of birth defects, as the government’s independent medical and scientific committee opted against recommending stricter prescribing rules for the drug.

Freedom of information (FoI) documents show the Advisory Committee on Medicines (ACM) met in April to consider changing the prescribing requirements for the drug, sodium valproate, after the UK introduced tougher regulations in January.

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