An anti-epilepsy drug first licensed in the UK in 1975 may cause long-term developmental problems in children born to pregnant women using it, suggest the results of a new study.Epilepsy experts already believe there is a strong link between using drugs containing sodium valproate during pregnancy and dysmorphic features - such as eyes set wider apart and a thinned upper lip - in children born subsequently. They have suspected that valproate use in pregnant mothers may also lead to longer term developmental problems in their children - but until now the evidence for this has been anecdotal.
