Withholding the choice of sodium valproate to young women with generalised epilepsy: Are we causing more harm than good?

Failure to prescribe valproate for IGE, particularly when another first-line treatment has failed, may not be in a young woman's best interests-particularly when they are most vulnerable to sequelae from uncontrolled seizures. Indiscriminate avoidance of valproate needs to be recognised as a misinterpretation of current epilepsy guidelines as it may harm young people. Although the use of valproate demands careful consideration, there remains a strong case to always discuss this medication because of its efficacy and potential to reduce seizure-related harm. Patients must be allowed to make their own informed decisions about effective epilepsy treatments.