important

Are you a person who can physically become pregnant (even if you have no intent or a current partner) or can father a child.

If you answered yes, this alert is important for you.

You can't predict what may happen between specialist appointments, especially if you have bipolar disorder.

If taken in the weeks before becoming pregnant or during pregnancy:

11% of children will have severe physical malformation

30-40% of children will have neurodevelopmental delay or disability or an intellectual disability. All children will have a lower IQ

There is also an increased risk (smaller than for women) of neurodevelopmental disorders in children if valproate is taken by a father at conception.

Rates of disability: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/valproate-use-by-women-and-girls Linked 30/11/2024

Lower IQ: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21092354/;https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39217754/ Linked 30/11/2024

If you are taking valproate, do not stop without speaking to your doctor.

Read information on the medicine - you can use the resources on this website and it is recommended you find more until you are happy you have the information you need.

Speak to your doctor, listen to their recommendation. Ask for the reasons for their recommendation. You make the decision on what is best for you.

Unless you are under a CTO, in which instance it should not be prescribed due to lack of informed consent and lack of management of contraception, the doctor must prescribe an alternative if you decline to take valproate. If a doctor forces their opinion, it is recommended you seek a second opinion or investigate other options for assistance open to you.

This is not medical advice, only you and your doctor are able to determine the best course of treatment.

Image links below are to official information booklets; if links do not work, email medinfo.australia@sanofi.com