Pediatrics for Parents - Birth defects and Tegretol
Birth Defects and Tegretol
Carbamazepine (Tegretol) is used to treat many medical problems. The list includes epilepsy, bipolar depression, excited psychosis, alcohol withdrawal, and trigeminal neuralgia (facial pain). But what if a woman becomes pregnant while taking carbamazepine? Or if she needs to take the medicine while pregnant to prevent serious problems? What’s the effect on her developing infant?
Tegretol is known to cause specific deformities. Minor facial defects, poor formation of finger and toe nails, and developmental delays have all been reported in children whose mothers took carbamezepine during pregnancy. In one study of 35 live births, 11% has minor facial deformities, 26% defects in nail formation, and 20% experienced developmental delays.
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Carbamazepine is an excellent drug for many medical conditions. Like many drugs, it can cause potentially serious birth defects. Any woman of the child-bearing age should take appropriate precautions when taking any medicine. There is always the potential of harming a developing fetus.
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