Prenatal Valproate Exposure Tied to Offspring Neurodevelopmental Risks

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on March 19, 2026.

via HealthDay

THURSDAY, March 19, 2026 -- Prenatal valproate exposure is associated with increased neurodevelopmental risks among offspring, according to a study published online March 11 in The BMJ.

In a study using health care use data from 2000 to 2021, Loreen Straub, M.D., from Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, and colleagues examined whether prenatal exposure to specific antiseizure drugs increases the risk for neurodevelopmental disorders in children.

A total of 8,887 children who were unexposed prenatally were included in the cohort; exposed pregnancies ranged from 219 to 5,261 for lacosamide and levetiracetam, respectively. The researchers observed associations with several outcomes for valproate and zonisamide (adjusted hazard ratio range, 1.26 to 4.50), while no associations with an increased risk for any outcome were seen for levetiracetam and phenytoin. A twofold to fourfold increase in risk for intellectual disability was seen in association with several drugs; due to the small number of children with this disorder, the estimates were imprecise. Across most outcomes, no meaningful associations were seen for topiramate and lamotrigine, but a potential signal was seen for intellectual disability (both drugs) and learning difficulty (topiramate only; hazard ratio, 1.23 based on small numbers). A modest increase in risk for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and behavioral disorders was seen in association with carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine (hazard ratio range, 1.23 to 1.40).

"Our findings raise potential concerns for zonisamide, which was associated with several neurodevelopmental disorders in the main analysis," the authors write. "However, these estimates are based on small numbers and should be interpreted with caution."

Several authors disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry.

Abstract/Full Text

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

Source: HealthDay

Posted : 2026-03-20 01:53

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Prenatal Valproate Exposure Tied to Offspring Neurodevelopmental Risks

Read more

Disclaimer

Popular Keywords