News | Paediatrics and neonatal

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Prenatal exposure to levetiracetam linked with increased risk of psychiatric disorders, study suggests

Research has shown that prenatal exposure to levetiracetam is linked with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and anxiety.…

Published: 19 April 2023

News

Weight-loss drug semaglutide recommended for use in teenagers in Europe

Wegovy has been recommended for use in adolescents aged 12 years and over with obesity and a body weight above 60kg.…

Published: 13 April 2023

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Third of women taking anti-seizure medication unaware of pregnancy risks, survey reveals

Data from a survey by three epilepsy charities has shown that a third of women taking carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, pregabalin or topiramate are unaware of the increased risk of birth defects if taken during pregnancy.…

Published: 24 March 2023

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Whole-pack dispensing of sodium valproate made mandatory following consultation 

The legislation will help address concerns around women taking sodium valproate, who may be unaware of the risks posed to their unborn child if they fall pregnant.…

Published: 20 March 2023

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Newborn babies to be genetically tested to prevent gentamicin-associated deafness

Around 1,200 babies born in England and Wales each year are at risk of hearing loss from gentamicin.…

Published: 15 February 2023

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Government advisers warn of ‘negative impact’ of two-clinician sign-off on valproate patients

Exclusive: Meeting minutes of the Valproate Safety Implementation Group say the new measure could have a “negative impact” on patients, and that “their perspective should be taken into account”.…

Published: 13 February 2023

Feature

Why is the UK struggling to contain its sodium valproate problem?

There has been some progress in managing the risks of sodium valproate, but babies are still being born after exposure to the drug, and safety concerns over antiepileptic use in men and women are multiplying.…

Published: 10 February 2023

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Families affected by sodium valproate should receive compensation, say MPs

In a report reviewing the government's response to those harmed by medicines and medical devices, the House of Commons health and social care committee said that families "need support, and have waited too long".…

Published: 20 January 2023

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‘Urgent’ action required to reduce level of harm from valproate, says patient safety tsar

Exclusive: NHS England is still around halfway off its target to reduce the number of female patients on sodium valproate.…

Published: 17 January 2023

Feature

Insomnia: the great melatonin delusion

Increasingly prescribed in young people with sleep problems, experts are worried that melatonin, a supposedly ‘natural’ treatment for insomnia, is providing nothing more than false hope.…

Published: 24 November 2022