Do you consider stopping zonisamide in a female patient with epilepsy who becomes pregnant?
Answer from: at Academic Institution
There is nothing specific to zonisamide in this matter and the same question applies to any ASM except basically VPA. Should we stop the ASM if the woman becomes pregnant?
I have never understood this question. If it's considered possible to discontinue the ASM due to pregnancy, it suggests that sh...
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Answer from: at Academic Institution
Dr. @Benbadis is correct. If a physician is going to attempt to minimize the risk of an ASM during pregnancy (for example, VPA and neural tube defects), the drug has to be discontinued before the woman becomes pregnant. The neural tube closes between the 2nd and 4th week of pregnancy and the patient...