UPDATE (9 July 2020): Since the original story, the government has issued an apology to families affected by the public health scandals around the medical products sodium valproate, Primodos and pelvic mesh. You can read the full government response on the UK Parliament website.
A new study in Epilepsia has suggested that children exposed to four common epilepsy medicines in the womb may have an increased risk of behavioural problems.
For over 10 years, on 26 of March we have marked Purple Day, the international epilepsy awareness day. This is always a powerful day, full of unity, inspiration and information. It allows people to show their support for everyone living with epilepsy, share their experiences of the condition and raise some money and awareness.
Finding out you have epilepsy is scary at any age. For young children and their families, it can be terrifying.
For Purple Day 2019 Epilepsy Action is aiming to help more children and families come to terms with epilepsy.
Purple Day is an international event held on 26 March every year to raise awareness and funds to help people living with epilepsy.
Pharmaceutical company UCB’s lacosamide epilepsy medicine, known as VIMPAT, has been approved by the European Commission for use in children over 4 years old in Europe.
The lacosamide medicine was approved in September for use on its own or alongside other medicines to treat focal-onset seizures. It was previously approved for use in teenagers over 16 years old and adults in Europe.
Certain behaviours in children and teenagers with epilepsy may predict a higher risk of mental health issues, according to a new study in Epilepsia.
A new study has found that children of a school age with epilepsy may be more likely to have other problems like depression or anxiety than children without epilepsy.
A recent study has added to our knowledge that vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a safe and efficient treatment for children living with drug-resistant epilepsy who are unable to receive surgery.
Deciding when and how to tell young children about epilepsy in the family is often difficult and problematic, but not addressing the issue can cause problems too.
New guidance concerning the use of sodium valproate has been released by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). It urges medical professionals to give women better information about the risks of taking the drug
