Epilim & pregnancy

hi my name is teresa i had a son while on eplim he has no thumbs and the bone that grows to make them did not now at aged 13 his spine is curling like a snake he has to have a op to put a metal rod down his spine he also has a hole in the heart he is a lovely loving boy but so much pain he has had it is a shame i just wish the told me before at least i would off know what to expect

My sister and I were both taking epillim during pregnancy, my sister's son at age 14 has just had an operation on his back to straighten it. He also has quite a few developmental problems. My son is now 10 and after a really tough 6 years with behavioural and developmental problems we have been told that he is mildly intellectually handicapped. Whilst there is no proof that epillim is to blame I strongly believe that it was.

Hi, I had a daughter while taking Epilim for epilepsy. I was on 1200mg per day before, during and after the pregnancy. My daughter Madeleine was born in a normal delivery, extremely healthy and is a very happy baby. I am still breastfeeding her (at 9 months) and she loves her solids too. I have just fallen pregnant again. I don't think the epilim affected my fertility at all, I fell pregnant with Madeleine 4 months after stopping my contraception (which was an implamon implant in my arm). I made sure I took folic acid the whole way through pregnancy to reduce the chance of spina bifida and other complications. I do not smoke, nor did I drink during pregnancy. I was told that the risk of harming my baby through epilim was less than the damage that could be done if I had a seizure while pregnant which would most probably have happened if I had come off the drug. I have been taking Epilim for about 20 years.

hi there. i have been taking epilim 500mg twice a day for about 10 years now, and want to thank you both for your really different takes on the meds. if you want to come onto face book, i have created a group and want to build up as many people to get some info. im 27 and will likely want to start my own family in the next few years so am interested in lots of peoples opinions.

thanks again, and i hope all goes well with you both x

(to find the fb page, just got to it, and look for 'Epilim Chrono'. There is only me and another girl there so far...

Hi my mother was on Epilim when she gave birth to me. I was born healthy but over the years I've developed some problems. I have IBS, asthma, depression and I struggle with learning, I work better with images and music. These were all symptoms they discovered a few years after I was born. Don't worry it doesn't really bother me, I'm coping. I have meds I take for my IBS when its really bad and I take counselling for depression. And of course I love being more creative than logic. I know some kids have it worse, and my heart goes out to them, but not always. Your doctor wouldnt put you on it if the risks of damage to the fetus was high, but if your still not comfortable speak to your doctor. The last thing you need while trying for a baby is stress Good Luck.

are there any men out there who have babies on epilim. although we are not sure if this is the only thing thats stopping us yet we are investigating everything...

Hi im 20. Dont know whether this normal having sex for up to 2 hrs without an Orgasm, just wanna know whether this is normal when taking the the Epilim tablet.

hi,
i was taking epilim chrono and topiramate when i decided to try for a baby. i was informed that i needed to come off of both these meds because, as an epileptic alone u have a 11% risk of having a child with downs or spina bifida, and those 2 meds bumped the risk up to 33%. i was put on to keppra and i now have a very healthy 6yr old.

Hi, update... Now have a very healthy 18mnth old boy and daughter Madeleine is thriving! Nothing at all wrong with either! -lisajane28.

Hi I have been on Epilim Chrono. Tegratol and Frisium to control my Epilepsy. When I was 17 (now 32) I was told i would never be able to have kids, I am now married and saw a new Neurologist, (one of the best in the southern hemisphere) He has said that I can have kids BUT I need to come off Epilim, I am on the max dose of 2500mg per day. Im hoping that if i at least halve that and use a High risk bsteatricianO and obviously Folic acid that this may be enough.

defo come off the epilim. I have had 3 pregnancies while on it. The first one I stopped the epilim as soon as I found out I was pregnant and my daughter was fine. Second one I was advised to stay on it and lower the dose, and my son was stillborn at 39 weeks. Third I'm going through at the minute and have just found out that my baby's spine has not developed properly and baby will be born paralysed. My neurologist has confirmed this is the result of being on epilim. There are lots of safer alternatives you can try. Good Luck!!

i am 20 weeks pregnant and am on epliem so far scans are all normal but am still so scared x

Hi Gracie, what dose of epilim are you taking each day. I am in my first trimester and am just trying to get the facts between Pregnancy and epilim straight.

Would be interested in doses you are on also. I am 500mg x 2 epilim chrono and 5 mg folic acid. Hoping to try in next year. Would like to decrease dosage as much as poss.

hi,
I really don't want to scare you but please change your medication before you conceive. I fell pregnant with my 2 yr old while on epilim but stopped taking it the minute i found out i was pregnant. I was also on folic acid 5mg at the time. My daughter is 100% healthy. Then in 2010 I fell pregnant again and was advised to stay on the drug but lower the dose. My son was stillborn at 39 weeks. I am now pregnant again and found out 2 weeks ago that the baby's spine has not developed properly and my baby will be paralysed. My neurologist has confirmed this is the result of epilim, and I had never been told of the dangers before. It also causes development delays after the child is born. There are lots of other meds that are safer in pregnancy. Hope all goes well for you xx

Would be interested in doses you are on also. I am 500mg x 2 epilim chrono and 5 mg folic acid. Hoping to try in next year. Would like to decrease dosage as much as poss.

PS I have jme

hi my name is baylee i have been on epilim for bout 3 years 400mg a day i fell pregnant 1 mounth ago and have just miscarried and was just wondering if the drug could have had anything to do with it and if so has anyone else gone though this?