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Valproate pregnancy prevention — GPhC CRA MCQ

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HardCNS TherapeuticsValproate pregnancy preventionGPhC CRA

A woman of childbearing potential presents sodium valproate for epilepsy and says she is planning pregnancy. She has not seen the specialist recently. What is the most appropriate action?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: B — Do not stop abruptly; refer urgently to the specialist team

Valproate is highly teratogenic, but abrupt cessation may cause seizures. Urgent specialist review and pregnancy prevention programme considerations are required. In this scenario, the correct option is do not stop abruptly; refer urgently to the specialist team. The other options are plausible but do not address the key clinical, legal or safety issue as directly. This aligns with UK pharmacy practice guidance cited in the reference field.

Reference: BNF; MHRA Drug Safety Update