Vigabatrin

Print
Date: July 2024, Version 3.0

Quick read

Vigabatrin may occasionally be recommended in pregnancy if epilepsy cannot be controlled with other medicines.

What is it?

Vigabatrin (Sabril®) is used to treat epilepsy, usually in combination with other medicines.

Benefits

What are the benefits of taking vigabatrin in pregnancy?

Vigabatrin can prevents epileptic seizures, which can be dangerous to the woman and also lead to pregnancy complications.

Risks

Are there any risks of taking vigabatrin during pregnancy?

Vigabatrin use in pregnancy is not very well-studied. While the available information does not strongly suggest that it causes problems for the baby, further research is required to prove that vigabatrin is safe.

As a precaution, vigabatrin is only prescribed in pregnancy when the benefits of controlling seizures outweigh the possible risks.

Vigabatrin is an anti-seizure drug and some of these can affect folic acid levels. Women taking vigabatrin while trying to conceive and during pregnancy should therefore be prescribed a high dose folic acid supplement (5mg/day).

Alternatives

Are there any alternatives to taking vigabatrin?

Possibly. Other medicines can be used to treat epilepsy. However, vigabatrin is generally only used if other medicines to prevent seizures have not worked. For some women, staying on vigabatrin will be the safest option. 

Ideally, women planning a pregnancy should speak to their epilepsy specialist to determine whether vigabatrin is still the best medicine for them. Women with an unplanned pregnancy while taking vigabatrin should be reviewed at the earliest opportunity by their neurologist.

No treatment

What if I prefer not to take medicines during pregnancy?

It is very important to take any medicines prescribed to treat epilepsy. Uncontrolled seizures can be serious and can lead to pregnancy complications.

Your doctor will only prescribe medicines when absolutely necessary and will be happy to talk to you about any concerns that you might have. 

Do not stop vigabatrin unless you have been asked to do so by a specialist.

Will my baby need extra monitoring?

All pregnant women in the UK will be offered a very detailed anomaly scan at around 20 weeks of pregnancy as part of their routine antenatal care. No extra monitoring for major birth defects is required following vigabatrin use in pregnancy. 

Babies exposed to vigabatrin before delivery may experience withdrawal symptoms for a few days after birth. They will be monitored in hospital during this period and any symptoms treated as necessary. 

Are there any risks to my baby if the father has taken vigabatrin? 

We would not expect any increased risk to your baby if the father takes vigabatrin.

Who can I talk to if I have questions? 

If you have any questions regarding the information in this leaflet, please discuss them with your health care provider. They can access more detailed medical and scientific information from www.uktis.org.   

How can I help to improve drug safety information for pregnant women in the future?

Our online reporting system (MyBump Portal) allows women who are currently pregnant to create a secure record of their pregnancy, collected through a series of questionnaires. You will be asked to enter information about your health, whether or not you take any medicines, your pregnancy outcome and your child's development. You can update your details at any time during pregnancy or afterwards. This information will help us better understand how medicines affect the health of pregnant women and their babies. Please visit the MyBump Portal to register.

General information
Sadly, miscarriage and birth defects can occur in any pregnancy.

Miscarriage occurs in about 1 in every 5 pregnancies, and 1 in every 40 babies are born with a birth defect. This is called the ‘background risk’ and happens whether medication is taken or not.

Most medicines cross the placenta and reach the baby. For many medications this is not a problem. However, some medicines can affect a baby’s growth and development.

If you take regular medication and are planning to conceive, you should discuss whether your medicine is safe to continue with your doctor/health care team before becoming pregnant. If you have an unplanned pregnancy while taking a medicine, you should tell your doctor as soon as possible.

If a new medicine is suggested for you during pregnancy, please make sure that the person prescribing it knows that you are pregnant. If you have any concerns about a medicine, you can check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist.

Our Bumps information leaflets provide information about the effects of medicines in pregnancy so that you can decide, together with your healthcare provider, what is best for you and your baby.

Feedback