When pregnant, many women suffer from different conditions such as depression, seizures, or migraines, in turn they take prescription drugs to treat it. However a recent study has shown that some of the drugs taken can increase the unborn child's risk of developing autism.
According to the Boston Globe a study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association that found women who took the anti-seizure drug valproate during pregnancy had nearly tripled the risk of giving birth to a child who later developed autism compared to those who didn't take the drug.
Valproate is a drug that is known to cause birth defects such as cleft palates and spine abnormalities, it is also one of the most powerful drugs to control seizures related to epilepsy.
However nearly 80 percent of the 1 million women who are prescribed the drug every year take it to treat conditions other than epilepsy, such as migraines, chronic pain, or bipolar disorder.
Dr. Kimford Meador, a pediatric neurologist at Emory University wrote an editorial that accompanied the study. He said that he has "seen children born to mothers who were treated with this drug who have autism, usually a more severe form that involves cognitive problems along with social difficulties."
According to News Medical "the risks for autism spectrum disorder and childhood autism were also 2.2-fold, and 5.6-fold greater, respectively, in exposed children than in children of mothers who stopped taking valproate at least 30 days before conception."
What makes matters worse is that women are currently consuming drugs that have not been well studied for fetal health risks. These drugs include Ritalin and Adderall, which women begin taking in their teens and continue on through child bearing years to help manage attention deficit disorder.
However the effects of these drugs are still unknown. According to News Medical, the study concluded that alternative medications should be used whenever possible. Woman should also be informed of the risks associated with valproate even if they are not currently planning to conceive.