Is the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulator Agency (MHRA) guidance on sodium valproate acceptable to women of childbearing age?

Background: The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) published guidelines restricting the use of sodium valproate in women of childbearing age unless they consented to the pregnancy prevention programme (PPP), receiving counselling by an epilepsy specialist, or meeting exclusion criteria.

Method: We contacted every woman of childbearing age on valproate for epilepsy in NHS Tayside (122).