In Utero Exposure to Antiseizure Meds Does Not Affect Child Creativity
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
WEDNESDAY, May 29, 2024 -- There are no differences in creative thinking at age 4.5 years for children of women with epilepsy (WWE) and children of healthy women (HW), but fetal antiseizure medication (ASM) exposure-dependent effects are seen for executive function in children of WWE, according to a study published online May 29 in Neurology.
Kimford J. Meador, M.D., from Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, and colleagues examined fetal exposure of newer ASMs on creativity and executive functions in 4.5-year-old children of WWE compared with children of HW. The primary analysis included 251 and 73 children of WWE and HW, respectively.
The researchers observed no differences between children of WWE and HW in creativity or executive function. For creativity measures, no ASM exposure-dependent effects were seen, but there were exposure-dependent effects noted for executive function for ratio ASM concentration and ratio defined daily dose.
"Our findings highlight that even for epilepsy medications that are generally considered to be safe in pregnancy, dose adjustments should be made with a goal of reaching an optimal balance between controlling seizures and the minimizing negative effects on the developing child," Meador said in a statement.
Several authors disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
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.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted May 2024
Read this next
Tumor-Related Epilepsy Not Strong Prognostic Factor in Diffuse Glioma
WEDNESDAY, May 21, 2025 -- For patients with diffuse gliomas, tumor-related epilepsy (TRE) is not a strong prognostic factor, according to a study published in the May issue of...
All-Cause Mortality Higher With Sleep Deprivation in Seniors With Epilepsy
MONDAY, May 19, 2025 -- Older adults with sleep deprivation and epilepsy have an elevated risk for all-cause mortality, according to a study published online April 23 in...
New Definition of Epilepsy Improves Diagnosis, Treatment
TUESDAY, April 15, 2025 -- The new International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) definition of epilepsy results in a higher frequency of epilepsy diagnosis and treatment, according...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.