Epilepsy medication during breastfeeding

Epilepsy is a neurological condition that causes repeated seizures. There are many types of epilepsy and these may have different symptoms and levels of severity. During breastfeeding, patients must generally continue to take medication for their epilepsy. However, patients need to be careful when using medicine to treat epilepsy while breastfeeding because not all epilepsy medication is safe for breastfeeding mothers to take.

While breastfeeding, it is important that women with epilepsy are closely monitored by their neurologist and gynaecologist to minimise the risk of complications and to ensure that they receive the best possible treatment.

Causes of epilepsy

Epilepsy can have various causes that often occur in combination. Some of the most common causes include:

• Genetic factors: Some types of epilepsy may be caused by inherited genes that increase the risk of experiencing epileptic seizures.
• Brain injuries: Injuries like traumatic brain injuries, brain haemorrhages or stroke can impair the structure and function of the brain and lead to the development of epilepsy.
• Infections: Infections such as meningitis or encephalitis can have an impact on the brain and cause epilepsy.
• Brain tumours: Tumours in the brain may trigger epileptic seizures.
• Metabolic disorders: Metabolic disorders such as diabetes or an electrolyte imbalance may cause epileptic seizures.
• Medication or drugs: Some medications or drugs may trigger epileptic seizures or increase the risk of developing epilepsy.

Treating epilepsy with medication during breastfeeding

While breastfeeding, it is important to continue to take medication to treat your epilepsy. Epilepsy can be treated using a range of different medicines or active ingredients. You may have questions about how safe these medicines are while breastfeeding:

• Oxcarbazepine (Apydan)
• Brivaracetam (Briviact)
• Midazolam (Buccolam)
• Clobazam (Clobazam Syri Pharma)
• Clonazepam (Clonazepam-Neuraxpharm, Rivotril)
• Stiripentol (Diacomit)
• Valproic acid (Ergenyl, Orfiril)
• Ethosuximide (Ethosuximid-Neuraxpharm)
• Fenfluramine (Fintepla)
• Perampanel (Fycompa)
• Gabapentin (GabaLiquid GeriaSan, Neurontin)
• Rufinamide (Inovelon)
• Levetiracetam (Keppra, Levetiracetam Desitin)
• Vigabatrin (Kigabeq, Sabril)
• Lacosamide (Lacosamid Desitin, Lacosamid UCB, Vimpat)
• Lamotrigine (Lamictal, Lamotrigin Desitin)
• Phenobarbital (Luminaletten)
• Pregabalin (Lyrica)
• Cenobamate (Ontozry)
• Sultiame (Ospolot)
• Mesuximide (Petinutin)
• Ethosuximide (Petnidan)
• Phenytoin (Phenhydan)
• Felbamate (Taloxa)
• Carbamazepine (Tegretol, Timonil)
• Oxcarbazepine (Timox, Trileptal)
• Topiramate (Topamax)
• Eslicarbazepine (Zebinix)
• Zonisamide (Zonegran, Zonisol)

Risks of epilepsy medication during breastfeeding

Taking epilepsy medication while breastfeeding may cause various side effects, such as breathing difficulties and increased liver values. It is very important to choose the right epilepsy medication while breastfeeding because for some medicines there is very little data on whether they are passed on to the baby through breast milk. There are, however, medicines that can be taken while breastfeeding, making them the preferred treatment option.

Find out whether your epilepsy medication is safe for you and your baby while you are breastfeeding

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