Briefing before Prescribing Sodium Valproate

About the Course

This is a self-paced course by the Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) working group and the MSF International Pharmacovigilance Unit.

This course highlights the precautionary measures before prescribing sodium valproate to women and girls of childbearing age.

It is meant for healthcare professionals in the MSF projects who prescribe sodium valproate and/or manage patients who are taking sodium valproate for epilepsy or bipolar disorder.

TARGET AUDIENCE

This briefing is meant for healthcare professionals in the MSF projects who prescribe sodium valproate and/or manage patients who are taking sodium valproate for epilepsy or bipolar disorder.

DURATION

The time needed to accomplish the course is 20 minutes.

METHODOLOGY

This is an autonomous and always open online course. It is recommended to follow the course from the beginning, starting with the introduction.

CERTIFICATION

At the end of this course, you will receive a Badge.

Learning Objectives

At the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • Apply precautionary measures when prescribing sodium valproate to women and girls of childbearing age.

List of Contents

  • Introduction to the Course
  • Learning Objective
  • Briefing Before Prescribing Sodium Valproate to Women and Girls of Childbearing Age
  • What Do I Need to Know Before Prescribing Sodium Valproate?
1. Patients should be counseled on the risks of the medication
    • What the Clinician Should Know
    • What the Patient Should Know
2. Highly effective contraception is required
3. Pregnancy tests should be taken before prescription and repeated during treatment as needed
    • My patient is pregnant while on sodium valproate...
    • My patient is planning a pregnancy... 
    • My patient is breastfeeding... 
4. Patients should be closely monitored (minimum annually)

  • Suggested Checklist for Starting a Female Patient on Sodium Valproate
  • Quiz
  • Summary