Seizure Medications do not Affect Breastfed Children

A recent study conducted by researchers at Stanford University, California, shows that mothers on antiepileptic medications will not have to worry about passing on the medication to their child while breastfeeding. New research published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics found no negative effects at six years of age for mothers on AED therapy.  

Lead study author Dr. Kimford J. Meador of the university and colleagues examined the cognitive outcomes of children of mothers with epilepsy treated by AEDs. They found that these children showed no difference in their IQ than those who were breastfed and those who were not.

After examining IQ data of 181 children at age six to further determine their performance and adult abilities, they found no significant adverse cognitive effects in children breastfed by mothers who used antiepileptic medications.

In fact, researchers found that about 43 percent of the children were breastfed at an average of seven months. However, IQ levels were also determined by the type of drug taken by the mother. For instance, children with moms who were on valproate during breastfeeding typically scored seven to 13 points lower on IQ tests.  

However, higher maternal IQ, folate use and breastfeeding time were associated with higher IQ. The study also revealed that children who were breastfed had higher verbal abilities than those who were not.

"Our study does not provide a final answer, but we recommend breastfeeding to mothers with epilepsy, informing them of the strength of evidence for risks and benefits. Our recommendation is based on the known positive effects of breastfeeding, the results of our study, an unsubstantiated speculative risk, and theoretical reasons why breastfeeding when taking AEDs would not offer additional risk," the researchers concluded, in a news release.