You could not miss the Dépakine scandal. In August 2016, an investigation by the Ministry of Health revealed that 14,322 pregnant women had been exposed to valproic acid between 2007 and 2014.
This molecule, in particular present in Depakine (a drug prescribed against epilepsy), would be responsible for congenital malformations in the baby, but also of psychomotor and / or neurobehavioural disorders, intellectual delays and / or walking, even ofautism.
Depakine, Depakote, Depamide
Also in August 2016, the Ministry of Health affirmed its desire to strengthen information on taking valproic acid during pregnancy: the health authorities had in particular put forward the idea of a pictogram, which would be present on the drug packaging. Of course, Depakine is concerned, but also Depakote and Depamide, two drugs prescribed for bipolar disorders.
Good news: six months later, this pictogram has finally seen the light of day, as announced by the Association for the Assistance of Parents of Children Suffering from Anticonvulsant Syndrome (Apesac) on its Twitter account. This association has been calling for the establishment of a preventive logo since May 2015.
Concretely, this pictogram (which entered into force on March 1, 2017) represents a pregnant woman in a red triangle: below, it is written, in red, “valproate + pregnancy = danger”. Also mentioned is the fact that valproic acid should not be used in adolescent girls / girls / women who are pregnant or of childbearing age, “unless other treatments have failed”.
To read :
Dépakine: the alternatives offered by the HAS for pregnant women
Dépakine: the scandal could cost 6 billion euros
Dépakine: the revelations of the Chained Duck embarrass the Ministry of Health
