The use of antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy has always been a controversial topic.

Researchers from the University of Bristol discussed the long-term safety evidence of other antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy.

The results show that children exposed to valproate during pregnancy are more likely to have autism, intellectual disability, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)than children who have not been exposed to antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy.

Furthermore, children who were exposed to topiramate during pregnancy were 2.5 times more susceptible to being diagnosed with intellectual disability.

In addition, those exposed to carbamazepine had a 1.25 times higher chance of being diagnosed with autism and a 1.30 times greater likelihood of facing an intellectual disability diagnosis.

However, there was minimal indication that lamotrigine exposure during pregnancy significantly increased the risk of neurodevelopmental diagnoses in children.