Community Forum Archive
The Epilepsy Community Forums are closed, and the information is archived. The content in this section may not be current or apply to all situations. In addition, forum questions and responses include information and content that has been generated by epilepsy community members. This content is not moderated. The information on these pages should not be substituted for medical advice from a healthcare provider. Experiences with epilepsy can vary greatly on an individual basis. Please contact your doctor or medical team if you have any questions about your situation. For more information, learn about epilepsy or visit our resources section.
Phenobarb during pregnancy and learning disabilities?
Thu, 01/06/2011 - 15:47Hi everyone, My name is Julie and I am new to this forum. I am 40 years old and have been on phenobarbital since I was 17 years old. Besides the concern I have for myself and taking this med for so long I am recently concerned with my 10 year olds overall performance at school and home. I obviously took this medication while pregnant with both my children.
Ncholas is a very smart 10 year old who excels at sports and for the most part has excelled in everything he has tried since he was born. For the last 3 years I have seen him start to struggle in school with Reading, school did nothing, tested him and told me he was "on grade level". In NY, where we live, state tests are manditory and the first time he was required to take them was last year in 3rd grade. He outright failed the reading/language arts test. Now the school has taken notice. He has been given reading help, but I still see no improvement.
Since the reading issue started, I have started to see an overall decline in his attention. He has a hard time focusing on tasks he does not enjoy, yet focuses fine on the ones he likes. He is disorganized, worried about the wrong things, like what we are doing next tuesday instead of studying for the science test tomorrow. Sure, many of these traits are probably normal 10 year old actions, but his teacher is a little concerned as well. He has not been focusing in his small group settings etc.
Has anyone experienced this, know of any studies or doctors who have studied this kind of situation. Can taking phenobarbital throughout your pregnancy lead to learning disorders as a child grows?
Any help would be appreciated.