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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Nicola Davis Science correspondent

Sodium valproate: what are dangers of epilepsy drug for unborn babies?

Pregnant woman with hands around belly
Between April 2018 and September 2021, 247 women in the UK were prescribed sodium valproate in a month in which they were pregnant. Photograph: Natalia Kuzina/Alamy

The anti-epilepsy drug sodium valproate can cause birth defects, but data has revealed it is still being prescribed to pregnant women in the UK, with concerns also raised that they are not always given information about the risks. But what is the drug, and how big is the problem?

What is sodium valproate?

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