Diagnosis and management of epilepsy in adults
Diagnosis and management of epilepsy in adults - Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN)
The guideline makes evidence-based recommendations covering all aspects of diagnosis and management of adults with epilepsy including a completely revised section on epilepsy and women’s health and new sections covering psychiatric comorbidity, sleep, and mortality (including sudden unexpected death in epilepsy). It also provides information for discussion with people with epilepsy and their carers.
This guideline will be of interest to general practitioners, practice nurses, epilepsy specialist nurses, general physicians, emergency department specialists, neurologists, obstetricians, clinical neuropsychologists and psychiatrists.
Valproate
Valproate (Epilim, Depakote and other generic brands) is associated with a significant risk of birth defects and developmental disorders in children born to women who take valproate during pregnancy.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) states that valproate must no longer be used in any woman or girl able to have children unless she has a pregnancy prevention programme in place.
An expert panel was convened to review the sections of the guideline affected by this advice and an updated guideline was published in September 2018.