Does taking oxcarbazepine increase the chance of miscarriage?
Miscarriage is common and can occur in any pregnancy for many different reasons. One study did not find a higher rate of miscarriage among 337 individuals with epilepsy who took oxcarbazepine compared to those with epilepsy who took other medications.
Does taking oxcarbazepine increase the chance of birth defects?
Birth defects can happen in any pregnancy for different reasons. Out of all babies born each year, about 3 out of 100 (3%) will have a birth defect. Animal studies suggest that oxcarbazepine might increase the chance of birth defects. However, reports on almost 2,600 human pregnancies have not suggested a significantly increased chance of birth defects when oxcarbazepine is used. The chance for birth defects might increase when other anticonvulsant medications are used with oxcarbazepine.
Does taking oxcarbazepine increase the chance of other pregnancy-related problems?
Animal studies have suggested that oxcarbazepine might increase the chance of lower birth weight. One human report also found low birth weight (weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces [2500 grams] at birth) in 7 out of 8 newborns exposed to oxcarbazepine in pregnancy. However, this report also found that low birth weight was more common among infants born to individuals with epilepsy. Another study of 94 infants did not suggest that exposure to oxcarbazepine at any point in pregnancy increased the chance of low birth weight.
In rare cases, taking anticonvulsant medications during pregnancy, including oxcarbazepine, can cause bleeding problems in the newborn due to low vitamin K levels. Individuals taking oxcarbazepine in pregnancy should talk with their healthcare providers about taking vitamin K supplements near the end of their pregnancies. They can also talk to their child’s pediatrician before delivery about giving the newborn a vitamin K supplement at birth.
I need to take oxcarbazepine throughout my entire pregnancy. Will it cause withdrawal symptoms in my baby after birth?
It is not known if oxcarbazepine can cause withdrawal symptoms in a baby after birth. There are 2 case reports of newborns exposed to oxcarbazepine in pregnancy who had possible withdrawal symptoms after delivery. The symptoms went away after 9 to 12 days and included poor feeding, tremors, irritability, sneezing, and a high-pitched cry. Two case reports are not enough to know if oxcarbazepine was the cause of these symptoms. In contrast, a study of 94 infants exposed to oxcarbazepine at any point in pregnancy did not find an increased risk for withdrawal symptoms compared to infants not exposed to oxcarbazepine.
Does taking oxcarbazepine in pregnancy affect future behavior or learning for the child?
It is unclear if using oxcarbazepine in pregnancy can increase the chance of behavior or learning issues in children. One study looking at pregnant individuals taking anticonvulsant medications during pregnancy (only 10 took oxcarbazepine) found delayed verbal skills in infants evaluated at age 7 months. Another study that evaluated children at ages 6-14 years suggested an increased chance of intellectual disability after prenatal exposure to anticonvulsant medications including oxcarbazepine. However, other studies have found no differences in neurodevelopment, learning ability, or need for speech therapy in children exposed to oxcarbazepine compared to children exposed to some other anticonvulsant medications or those not exposed to these medications at all.
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