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'Cured' epilepsy MP James Frith joins calls for valproate inquiry | 'Cured' epilepsy MP James Frith joins calls for valproate inquiry |
(about 7 hours later) | |
An MP who claims to have been cured of epilepsy by a medication which causes birth defects in children has joined calls for an inquiry into the drug. | An MP who claims to have been cured of epilepsy by a medication which causes birth defects in children has joined calls for an inquiry into the drug. |
About 20,000 children in the UK have been left with disabilities caused by sodium valproate since the 1970s. | About 20,000 children in the UK have been left with disabilities caused by sodium valproate since the 1970s. |
James Frith, MP for Bury North, said he took the drug for many years but was "stunned" to learn that health warnings to pregnant women had been withheld. | James Frith, MP for Bury North, said he took the drug for many years but was "stunned" to learn that health warnings to pregnant women had been withheld. |
The medicines regulator said warnings of any health risks had been updated. | The medicines regulator said warnings of any health risks had been updated. |
Sodium valproate, known as Epilim, carries a 10% risk of physical abnormalities in unborn babies. | Sodium valproate, known as Epilim, carries a 10% risk of physical abnormalities in unborn babies. |
Babies exposed to the drug in the womb also have a 40% risk of developing autism, low IQ and learning disabilities. | Babies exposed to the drug in the womb also have a 40% risk of developing autism, low IQ and learning disabilities. |
The drug has been prescribed since the 1970s but it was only in 2016 that warnings were put on packets. | The drug has been prescribed since the 1970s but it was only in 2016 that warnings were put on packets. |
Mr Frith told a parliamentary debate on Thursday he developed epilepsy as a side effect of meningitis at the age of seven, when he was in a coma for two days. | Mr Frith told a parliamentary debate on Thursday he developed epilepsy as a side effect of meningitis at the age of seven, when he was in a coma for two days. |
The Labour MP said he wanted to "give a voice to" epilepsy sufferers after having taken sodium valproate for several years, which was "widely thought to have been the greatest contributing factor in curing me". | The Labour MP said he wanted to "give a voice to" epilepsy sufferers after having taken sodium valproate for several years, which was "widely thought to have been the greatest contributing factor in curing me". |
"I stand here as record of its effectiveness, but I do not stand up without remembering the unborn children, the women and the expectant parents for whom the risks are not widely enough known." | "I stand here as record of its effectiveness, but I do not stand up without remembering the unborn children, the women and the expectant parents for whom the risks are not widely enough known." |
'National scandal' | 'National scandal' |
Liberal Democrat MP Norman Lamb, who was a health minister between 2012 and 2015, told the Commons that information had been withheld in the 1970s about the drug's impact despite knowledge of the risks. | Liberal Democrat MP Norman Lamb, who was a health minister between 2012 and 2015, told the Commons that information had been withheld in the 1970s about the drug's impact despite knowledge of the risks. |
Nearly 400 babies affected by valproate had been born since an awareness campaign was launched in February 2016, MPs heard. | Nearly 400 babies affected by valproate had been born since an awareness campaign was launched in February 2016, MPs heard. |
Mr Frith called on the government to "make amends for this national scandal" and consider compensation for victims. | Mr Frith called on the government to "make amends for this national scandal" and consider compensation for victims. |
He also said it should "apologise to the women and children who are now men and women themselves" and ensure that no information concerning health and medical prescriptions are withheld again. | He also said it should "apologise to the women and children who are now men and women themselves" and ensure that no information concerning health and medical prescriptions are withheld again. |
A government spokesman said: "As with all medicines the safety of valproate in pregnancy has been kept under constant review and as new data has become available, the warnings have been updated. | |
"We continue to work closely and collaboratively with professional bodies to raise awareness of the risks associated with taking valproate medicines during pregnancy." | |
The European Medicines Agency is considering whether to take further regulatory action. | The European Medicines Agency is considering whether to take further regulatory action. |
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