Overview

This module will take approximately 30 minutes to complete and includes the following elements. 

• Background
  • Prevalence, prognosis, and complications.
• Management
  • How to manage women with epilepsy who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy.
• An optional quiz to assess learning goals from the course

Goals

During this course you will learn to:

• Be aware of the issues with use of some anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) in pregnancy and females of childbearing potential.
• Ensure that females of childbearing potential who are taking sodium valproate/valproic acid are enrolled on a pregnancy prevention programme (PPP).
• Refer women with epilepsy (WWE) who are planning a pregnancy to a specialist obstetrician or neurologist for pre-conceptual counselling and treatment review.
• Urgently refer WWE with unplanned pregnancies for treatment review and advice.
• Ensure that women taking AEDs who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy are prescribed high-dose folic acid.
• Ensure that pregnant WWE are reviewed regularly to ensure that seizures remain well-controlled.
• Provide WWE and their family with information and advice about epilepsy in pregnancy and the postpartum period.
• Ensure postpartum follow up to ensure that seizures remain well-controlled and appropriate AED doses are being used.

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