Women with epilepsy taking antiepileptic drugs have a greater (2-3 times) risk than other women of having a baby with a fetal abnormality.
Taking more than one antiepileptic drug carries a higher risk than monotherapy.
Major malformations, such as congenital heart disease, neural tube defects, urogenital defects and cleft lips or palates, occur in about 3-7% of women with epilepsy who take antiepileptic drugs, although a substantially higher risk is attributed to high doses of valproate (greater than 1400 mg/day).
