You Can Take Anti-seizure Medications (ASMs) & Have a Healthy Pregnancy
With proper care and planning, people with epilepsy can have safe, healthy pregnancies and deliver healthy babies. Recent findings from several research studies, including the Maternal Outcomes and Neurodevelopmental Effects of Antiepileptic Drugs study (MONEAD), support this.
Don’t stop taking your ASM during your pregnancy. Taking your medication is an important part of managing your seizures, something that’s crucial for the health of you and your baby.
Common Questions About Anti-seizure Medication & Pregnancy
Consult With Your Doctor
We understand how having epilepsy and taking ASMs can increase your worries about having a healthy pregnancy and delivering a healthy baby. The good news is that there is significant research on the safety of various ASMs for you and your baby.
Educating yourself before you try to get pregnant on key decisions, which may involve switching ASMs, can make the pregnancy journey much easier, less stressful, and safer for you and your baby.
Download our Epilepsy Diagnosis and Living With Epilepsy - Questions to Ask Your Doctors, and bring a copy to your appointments to help guide your conversations and get the answers you need.
Download our What We Know About ASMs and Pregnancy document and bring a copy to your appointments to help guide your conversations and get the answers you need.
You can also use the Epilepsy Foundation Seizure Diary to track your seizures and share the information with your doctor.
Reviewed by: Page Pennell, MD FAES, September 2023