Many doctors suggest that if you are a woman of childbearing age with epilepsy, you should take folic acid supplements of five milligrams a day. You should start these before you get pregnant and carry on taking them during the first three months of pregnancy. Some doctors suggest that ideally, you should take five milligrams of folic acid daily all the time, as accidental pregnancies are common.

Folic acid may interact with the anti-epileptic drugs phenytoin, phenobarbital and primidone, making them less effective. For this reason, if you are taking any of these anti-epileptic drugs, it is important to seek advice from your doctor before taking folic acid supplements.

 

November 2008

 

More in this section: 

  • Sexual development (puberty)
  • Sex life
  • Your periods (the menstrual cycle)
  • Contraception
  • The menopause and HRT
  • Epilepsy and fertility
  • Planning a baby
  • Scans and tests during pregnancy
  • Giving birth
  • Breastfeeding
  • Caring for children
  • Inheriting epilepsy
  • How you can help Epilepsy Action
  • Epilepsy Mine