Depakote & Pregnancy: Risks and Necessary Medication Use

Question
i have a friend who  was on depakote among other drugs and she got  pregnant and  lathough some of her psychiatrists and social workers said they did nto want ther to take depakote and  taht she did not need it
it was not discontinued and after a relatively short time  they discovered via ultrasound? that the baby would lose   some limbs potentially and so she ahd an abortion,

y was it so necessary for her to tka ethe drug ?
what does this say about her future chance sof conception?
what % of  women who ahve abortions ahve their future fertility compromised as a result?
y could not an alternate drug be   substituted?
what does the fact that she was given  dep under such  precarious circumstances say about the patients mental and physical health at that time and in the future?

what about  the chances of her getin off the drug  were she to conceive again?

is there anything that can be done to reverse and /or mitig8 damages once dep or another psychotropic drug was taken during preg?  

Answer
Hi Yom,

this really is something your friend should be discussing with her doctor.

You said the baby would "potentially" lose some limbs.... I am assuming they found abnormalities in the fetus through the ultrasound?

Why was it necessary for her to take the drug? Only her doctor can say. There are three things Depakote seems to be prescribed for, and i do not know which she was taking it for. It is used to treat bipolar disorder, migraines and epilepsy.

So, I do not know why it was needed for her to take it, but obviously one doctor thought she should be on it.

Her chances of conceiving again? She should not have a problem. I dont know about any percentage of women having abortions and having problems conceiving after. i would think she would be OK after a few months.

Could an alternate drug be substituted? I assume so, but again, only her doctor can make that decision. I do not know what she was even taking it for. I do not know if there would be any long lasting damage to her, but she really just needs to discuss pregnancy with her doctor to make sure she that if she DOES get pregnant again, whatever medicines she is taking will not harm the baby or the pregnancy.

I hope this helps.

andi