For several years, the association of victims Apesac warns against the adverse effects of Depakine, an antiepileptic. On December 6, she unveiled a study suggesting that this drug could have harmful consequences on subsequent generations.
- Valproate, the active ingredient present in Depakine, causes malformations and developmental disorders in the fetus.
- Of 187 children who were not directly exposed to valproate, 23% had malformations and 44% neurodevelopmental disorders.
Depakine is a medication prescribed to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder. It is also recommended to prevent fever-related convulsions in children when benzodiazepines, also called “sedatives” or “tranquilisers”, are not effective. This treatment contains sodium valproate, an active ingredient marketed since 1967 by the Sanofi laboratory.
This anticonvulsant, prescribed to pregnant women with epilepsy for several years, is now prohibited during pregnancy because of the serious risks it poses to the fetus. “Valproate exposes the unborn child to a high risk of congenital malformations (10% of cases) and motor, intellectual and behavioral developmental disorders (up to 30 to 40% of cases)”says Health Insurance.
A “contempt for the victims”
Since 2011, the association of victims Apesac and its founder, Marine Martin, alert on the toxicity of this antiepileptic in pregnant women but also on “the transgenerational impact of Dekapine”specifically valproate. “She noticed over the course of the collection of information, that the small Dekapin children in turn presented symptoms similar to the exposed generation”, can we read in a press release published by the association on December 6. After making this observation, she warned the government and asked for studies. “So far nothing has been done, the data collected by Apesac has been disregarded by the health authorities”lamented the organization. “This contempt for the victims is unbearable”reported Marine Martin.
Adverse effects on future generations
To highlight this potential risk of transmission between generations, the association decided to carry out a study published in the journal Birth Defects Research December 5. Their own data was analyzed by four experts, including Catherine Hill, an epidemiologist at the Institut Gustave Roussy who has been working on valproate for several years.
For the purposes of this work, Apesac questioned 108 people who suffer from complications due to exposure to valproate in utero. The participants had 187 children in total. Of the 187 children who were not directly exposed to this active ingredient, 23% had malformations and 44% neurodevelopmental disorders. Clearly, patients exposed to this substance in their mother’s womb could have children who are themselves victims of disorders.
“These data reinforce the need to fund pharmacoepidemiological investigations of epigenetic inheritance caused by drugs causing malformations or neurodevelopmental disorders. People exposed to valproate in utero should be informed of the risk, so that they can consider fertility options, prenatal diagnosis and adequate early monitoring”can we read in the study.
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