ArticleBJGP open2021
Valproate use in women aged 15-44 years: an observational study in general practice.
Article in BJGP open, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed, 11 citations in OpenAlex.
- Capability, opportunity and motivation for shared decision-making about valproate as an antiseizure medication treatment for epilepsy in women with pregnancy potential: A qualitative study of patient perspectives.British journal of health psychology · 2026Article
- How effective is the implementation of the valproate pregnancy prevention programme in Montenegro? - A 7-year national retrospective study.Therapeutic advances in drug safety · 2025Article
- The valproate prescription pattern for female mental healthcare users of reproductive age.The South African journal of psychiatry : SAJP : the journal of the Society of Psychiatrists of South Africa · 2024Article
- A Case Report of a 5-Year-Old Girl with Self-Limited Epilepsy with Autonomic Seizures.Pediatric reports · 2023Article
- The long-term outcomes of patients with negative prolonged ambulatory electroencephalography tests: A cross-sectional follow-up study.Health open research · 2023Article
- Valproate pregnancy prevention scheme: what are the barriers to enrolling patients and how do we meet them?BMJ neurology open · 2023Article
- Longitudinal Australian trends in the initiation of valproate medication among women of reproductive age and concurrent use of prescription contraceptives.Women's health (London, England)Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundValproate is a known teratogen. In April 2018, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) restricted its use in women and banned use in pregnancy, except for epilepsy with no other effective treatment. To date, there is limited information on valproate prescribing within primary care.
aimTo characterise valproate prescribing to women of childbearing age, recorded advice or GP prescribed contraception, and recorded pregnancies. DESIGN &
settingA cross-sectional study of patients from all 141 general practices across three clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in East London.
methodWomen aged 15-44 years prescribed valproate between 1 October 2017 and 1 January 2020 were included. Exclusion criteria were early menopause, sterilisation procedures, or hysterectomy. Pseudonymised data on valproate indication, pregnancy, pre-conception, and contraception advice were retrospectively extracted from general practice consultation data. Data were analysed by quarter using univariate statistics.
resultsOf the total 1 042 463 registered patients, 344 women aged 15-44 years were prescribed valproate during the study period; 14 were excluded. There were 10 pregnancies during possible valproate exposure; one was terminated. During the study period, the number of women prescribed valproate significantly decreased (
conclusionWith continued pregnancies in women aged 15-44 years prescribed valproate, patient education and foetal outcomes remain ongoing concerns. Further improvements are needed to ensure women make informed reproductive choices and safeguard future pregnancies from valproate exposure.
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