Affiliations: Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, USA | Department of Neurology, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, USA
Note: [] Corresponding author: Mitra Habibi, University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Pharmacy Practice, 833 South Wood Street, Chicago, IL, USA. Tel.: +1 312 996 0870; Fax: +1 312 996 0379; E-mail: [email protected].
Abstract: Epilepsy is a chronic, common neurological disorder affecting approximately three million people in the United States. Approximately one million of these individuals are women of childbearing age. Treatment of seizures with antiepileptic drugs in these women poses several challenges that are unique to this population. An appropriate treatment strategy for these women should include an in depth understanding of their unique issues including choosing an effective birth control method, emergency contraception, catamenial seizures, management of seizures during pregnancy, minimizing the risks of major congenital malformations and breast feeding.
