According to MSNBC, women with epilepsy face a difficult decision when they decide to have children, as they either must their medicine to prevent a seizure or they risk hurting the fetus. A new study from researches at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden found that children of mothers receiving polytherapy – a combination of epilepsy drugs – had 3 times greater odds of not finishing school.
The study examined 1,235 children born to mothers with epilepsy between 1973 and 1986. Children of mothers who were only taking a single medication did not seem to be as effected and were able to complete school just like their peers, although they were less likely to pass classes with excellence.
Doctors not involved with the study claim it is important for mothers to know that they are able to have normal kids. Childbearing is an important consideration for women with epilepsy, as drugs may have an effect on fetus development. Besides drugs, seizure can injure the fetus, and a woman with epilepsy cannot be off medication completely.
Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures that may be brief muscle jerks or severe and prolonged convulsions. Anticonvulsant drugs are most commonly prescribed to treat epilepsy, with about 20 drugs available on the market right now. Most anticonvulsant drugs have side effects such as dizziness and fatigue, but some carry a higher risk of suicidal acts.
A different study found that women with epilepsy may have an increased risk of infertility due to taking multiple anti-seizure medications.