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UK Bans Valproate Use Without Pregnancy Prevention Program; First In EU To Do So?

 
• By Vibha Sharma

Following the endorsement of EU-wide restrictions on the safe use of anti-epilepsy drug valproate, the UK appears to be the first member state to put in place a pregnancy prevention program to reduce the number of pregnancies exposed to valproate medicines to an absolute minimum and make sure all women and girls of childbearing potential are aware of the risks.

Pregnancy
Women Must Sign Up To The Pregnancy Prevention Program Before Getting Valproate • Source: Shutterstock

To ensure the safe use of valproate-containing medicines in the treatment of epilepsy and bipolar disorder in the UK, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has changed the licences of the drugs so that they cannot be prescribed to women or girls of childbearing potential unless they are on a pregnancy prevention program (PPP).

Healthcare professionals who want to prescribe valproate to female patients must first ensure the women are enrolled in a PPP....

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