Medicines in Pregnancy Registry: Valproate use in females aged 0 to 54 in England (April 2018 to September 2020)

NHS Digital and the MHRA are developing comprehensive national Medicines in Pregnancy Registries which can give a better understanding of the use, benefits, and risks of medicines taken in pregnancy. This report analyses existing administrative patient data as a proof of concept.

SPS commentary:

The report finds there was a general decrease in the number of females prescribed valproate in a month, from 27,448 in April 2018 to 22,095 in September 2020. In addition, fewer females are being prescribed valproate for the first time (195 new starters in September 2020 versus 241 in September 2019). Of those on the register, 462 had a total of 490 identified conceptions since April 2018 – 238 stopped receiving valproate prescriptions prior to pregnancy and 180 were prescribed valproate in a month in which they were pregnant.

NHS Digital