These are broadly reflected in the current product information (the Summary of Product Characteristics for healthcare professionals and the Patient Information Leaflet). With regards to risk of specific malformations, the available data suggest an increased risk of oral cleft lip or palate, hypospadias and atrial septal defect in association with topiramate. While the evidence to support an increased risk of major congenital malformations is not consistent across all studies, those that do not suggest an increased risk tend to be studies with a smaller number of pregnancies exposed to topiramate.

Developmental Delay

However, the number of exposures in the available clinical studies remains very limited and suggests that this is an area where further study would be very important. For the outcome of autism spectrum disorders, the data for lamotrigine were not completely consistent, with some studies reporting increases in the risk of autism spectrum disorders and similar outcomes, but with different estimates of the size of the increase. The prevalence of major congenital malformations varies between 1.17% and 8% in the studies, likely reflecting the different study methodologies and populations studied. However, they generally appear to support a prevalence of around 4–5% and a risk of major congenital malformations following in-utero exposure to carbamazepine monotherapy that is higher than in the general population (2–3%) and higher than that seen in women with epilepsy who are untreated. Congenital malformations reported include cleft lip or palate, cardiac malformations, neural tube defects, hypospadias, genitourinary tract defects, skeletal malformations including club foot and polydactyly and respiratory and gastrointestinal malformations.

This study identifies a three-way relationship between functional connectivity, cortical thickness, and positive subjective traits (e.g., life satisfaction, intelligence quotient) or negative behaviors (e.g., aggression, anger). Neurological ImpairmentThis is a broad term used to mean difficulties are due to a brain disorder. It may be a child or adult.Please take a few minutes to read our cerebrumiq short Introduction page about labels. It has a similar structure to dopamine and is able to cross the blood-brain barrier and pass into the brain, where it is converted into dopamine by the enzyme dopa-decarboxylase.

Intrauterine growth retardation/restriction

The correlations were more pronounced in the left SLF, what may be related to the by far more prevalent functional language dominance in the left cerebral hemisphere (70). Furthermore, there were more pronounced correlations in our study at six-moths post-injury, suggesting this interval as the optimal timing of DTI data acquisition for evaluation of cognitive outcomes. The limited clinical data, coupled with the non-clinical data showing a teratogenic effect of zonisamide, mean that the risk of malformations with zonisamide use during pregnancy remains uncertain and the possibility of an increased risk of malformations can neither be confirmed nor ruled out. NICE guidance recommends that it may be considered for use by a tertiary epilepsy specialist when adjunctive treatment is not effective or not tolerated, and therefore its usage is limited.

• Data from non-clinical studies in rats published in the scientific literature reported some evidence of neurodegenerative changes in the brains of the offspring exposed during pregnancy (Glier et al 2004, Singh M, Mishra A., 2005, Hashish 2014).
• They also provide clinical guidance on how to manage specific conditions in England.
• The left side of the brain specialises in logical, linear, analytical processes and the right side specialises in intuitive, holistic, imaginative processes (gross simplification).
• Visual impairment can mean disorders of the eyes, brain or both, and anything from moderate visual impairment to total blindness.

Lists of linear words does not engage the intuitive, right side of our brain. A much more effective way to do this is to use a technique called Mind Mapping®. Regular use of such visual, organic, branching techniques is brain-friendly, and encourages learning through visualisation and realisation of the interconnectedness of our internal and external worlds.

• Cognitive testing has long claimed to offer an objective snapshot of intelligence.
• Non-clinical studies in the published scientific literature have reported that exposure to phenobarbital during and soon after pregnancy can induce neurobehavioural effects in offspring and induce widespread apoptotic neurodegeneration in the brains of rodents.
• A study in which a number of similar people are randomly assigned to 2 (or more) groups to test a specific drug, treatment or other intervention.
• It is the most common facial birth defect in the UK affecting around 1 in every 700 babies.