FDA Says Pregnant Women Who Use Migraine Medicine Could Have Children With Lower IQ Scores

On Monday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned of the risk of taking certain migraine medicines while pregnant.

The medicines can lead to children with lower IQ scores.

Previous studies and warnings had addressed the exposure of these drugs in young children.  The warnings regarding pregnant women are new.

Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant and are taking certain migraine medicines are advised to talk to their health care professional immediately.  It is not known if there is a specific time during pregnancy that is riskier than others.

The warning labels on all of the medicines involved will soon be updated.

The FDA listed the drugs which should be avoided and their alternative uses at FDA.org:

These drugs are being contraindicated for (should never be used by) pregnant women for the prevention of migraine headaches. Valproate products include valproate sodium (Depacon), divalproex sodium (Depakote, Depakote CP, and Depakote ER), valproic acid (Depakene and Stavzor), and their generics.

Valproate products have several FDA-approved uses including: prevention of migraine headaches; treatment of epilepsy (seizures); and treatment of manic episodes associated with bipolar disorder (manic-depressive disorder).