The Latest News from OACS Ireland
Sodium Valproate Inquiry Update.
Last Updated: Wed,08/06/2022 – 07:43 Epilepsy Ireland and OACS Ireland met with Department of Health officials yesterday to discuss the establishment of the long-awaited Sodium Valproate inquiry. There was an open and honest discussion about the delays in establishing the inquiry…
More . . .
Sodium Valproate Inquiry Update.
OACS Ireland and Epilepsy Ireland have received an invitation from the Minister for Health to meet in order to discuss the establishment of the inquiry into the historical licensing and prescribing of Sodium Valproate in Ireland. We have accepted this…
More . . .
Minister for Health Questioned on establishment of promised Sodium Valproate inquiry
Last Updated: Thu, 26/05/2022 – 15:23 The need for the urgent establishment on the promised inquiry into the historical licensing and prescribing of Sodium Valproate (Epilim); alongside the need for services for families impacted; has been raised in the Dáil again…
More . . .
Outstanding Valproate Commitments raised in Dáil and media.
Last Updated: Fri, 20/05/2022 – 07:17 In the Dáil last week, Deputy Pearse Doherty raised the need for the establishment of the promised inquiry into the historical licensing and prescribing of Sodium Valproate (Epilim). https://bit.ly/3PAeWmo We and our colleagues in Epilepsy Ireland…
More . . .
UK media coverage outlines why outstanding valproate related commitments must be prioritised in Ireland
Last Updated: Wed, 20/04/2022 – 08:23 An in-depth feature in this week’s Sunday Times (UK) has highlighted the ongoing plight of families who have been impacted by Sodium Valproate (Epilim), their fight for redress to be provided by the British state…
More . . .
The HPRA #MedSafetyWeek RE-COVID-19
This year’s, annual #MedSafetyWeek the HPRA global social media campaign which stakeholders have been asked to support on social media throughout this week-long campaign from 1- 7 November 2021 is all about COVID-19 vaccines side effects (Adverse Drug Reactions). #MedSafetyWeek is…
More . . .OACS Ireland Annual Report 2020
Below you will find the OACS Ireland Annual Report 2020 https://bit.ly/3lK4Q5F
More . . .
New Irish study finds that ‘continued effort is needed’ in reducing valproate risks.
A new study which investigated the awareness, knowledge, and practice of healthcare professionals in implementing the Sodium Valproate (Epilim) Pregnancy Prevention Program (PPP) has been published in the medical journal Expert Opinion on Drug Safety. The study was conducted by researchers…
More . . .
OACS Ireland & Epilepsy Ireland urge the Minister to act on his promise for a fast & fair inquiry into the Historical use of Epilim (Sodium Valproate).
It has been 46 years since the granting of the license of Epilim (Sodium Valproate) in Ireland. The overwhelming impact it has had on families clearly evident. OACS Ireland families have been dealt a dreadful hand in life, and it…
More . . .
The Sodium Valproate (Epilim) Campaign
Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh speech. In the Dáil, Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh raised the ongoing delays surrounding details of the promised inquiry into the historical licensing and prescribing of Sodium Valproate (Epilim) in Ireland. The Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly confirmed…
More . . .Downloads & Resources
Links to Website Resources
- OACS Facebook Group
- OACS YouTube Channel
- OACS UK Charity
- Epilepsy Ireland
- Irish Epilepsy and Pregnancy Register
- Irish Family Planning Association
- Birth Control (HSE Website)
- Valproate (Epilim) Patient Booklet (HPRA)
- EMA – Information & reviews on Valproate
- Valproate Information(HSE Website)
- Meeting highlights from PRAC
Download Resources
- OACS Ireland Leaflet
- National Conference on the Consequences of Sodium Valproate
- Joint Committee on Health Report on Foetal Anti-Convulsant Syndrome
- Valproate (Epilim) is a medicine licensed in Ireland to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder
- 2019 Neurology Referral Specialist
- HSE Report on prenatal exposure
- 2018 Sodium Valproate who knew what and when
- 2019 Videos from the National Conference on Sodium Valproate
- 2018 FACS Forum welcomes HSE’s plans to contact patients directly regarding Sodium Valproate
- 2019 Study identifies the risk of malformations associated with prenatal exposure to 10 epilepsy drugs
Videos / Media
OACS Ireland: The Story So Far
Public Hearing on Valproate
Epilim (Sodium Valproate): For Patients*
Epilim (Sodium Valproate): For Hospital Doctors*
Epilim (Sodium Valproate): For Neurologists & Psychiatrists*
Epilim (Sodium Valproate): For GPs*
*The Medication Safety Minute Team in conjunction with Dr Colin Doherty, Epileptologist in St. James’s Hospital (SJH), have produced a series of 4 videos to highlight the risks associated with sodium valproate medicines if taken during pregnancy. Each of the videos highlights key points in relation to the management of the issue from a different perspective − that of the patient, the hospital doctor, the specialist (neurologist or psychiatrist), and the GP, respectively. These videos were released during National Epilepsy Week which aims to raise awareness Epilim (Sodium Valproate) in pregnancy.