Introduction

Abstract

It is now widely accepted that, as far as possible, the intake of therapeutic drugs is better avoided during pregnancy because of their possible harmful effects on the developing foetus. However, in some clinical situations, the benefit achieved by preserving maternal health may justify continuing therapeutic drug intake during pregnancy. One such commonly encountered situation is the treatment of epilepsy. A good deal of information has accumulated regarding pregnant human bodies’ handling of antiepileptic drugs and their effects on the physical and intellectual development of the foetus. The present book attempts to provide an account of this information and to discuss its application in the management of pregnant women with seizure disorders, recognising that the principles that apply in this situation are likely to also be valid in guiding the management of other disorders, particularly psychiatric ones, in which this class of drugs may also need to be used during human pregnancy