They knew in 1992! Sodium Valproate!

A leading professor from Oxford says 40 years of inaction led to thousands of children being harmed by a drug used to treat epilepsy.

Sodium valproate has been prescribed for decades for women with epilepsy, but it has also been harming babies.

If taken during pregnancy, it increases the risk of birth defects, autism, cleft palate and spina bifida. (source: Foetal dangers)

Epilim is the brand name for sodium valproate in Ireland, used primarily for treating epilepsy (and bipolar disorder in some cases)

Sanofi — the French pharmaceutical giant — holds the marketing authorisation for Epilim (sodium valproate) in Ireland. They are the manufacturer and distributor of Epilim in this country. The Sanofi Ireland office is based at Citywest Business Campus, Dublin 24

Caution: Valproate (also known as sodium valproate, valproic acid, or divalproex) isn’t made by just one company—it’s off-patent, so many pharmaceutical manufacturers produce it under various brand names.