The Latest News from OACS Ireland
Anticonvulsant Drug List History of dates
The dates provided above are the calendar years in which the respective active (medication) were first authorised for use in Ireland through official regulatory processes. Some of the older anticonvulsants would have been available for use in Ireland. Active substanceYear…
More . . .Budget 2021 changes which may affect OACS Ireland members and their families
Carbon tax The carbon tax on fuel will increase by €7.50 from €26 per tonne to €33.50 per tonne. The effect of this increase will be to add approximately €2 to the cost of a tank of fuel for a patrol car…
More . . .Covid – 19 – Update OACS Ireland
All remaining counties to join Donegal and Dublin on Level 3 under Ireland’s Plan for Living with COVID-19 – https://gov.ie/…/f3d24-all-remaining-counties-to-join…/ The government has decided that, from midnight last night the 6th October, all remaining counties will be placed on Level…
More . . .OACS Ireland launch Petition raising awareness of Campaign for Independent Inquiry.
OACS Ireland have launched a new petition to raise awareness of our calls for an independent inquiry into sodium valproate (epilim). As we await correspondence from Minister Stephen Donnelly, the petition aims to increase awareness of our campaign amongst the…
More . . .OACS Ireland & Epilepsy Ireland seek response from Minister Donnelly regarding Independent Inquiry on Sodium Valproate
Together with our colleagues in Epilepsy Ireland, OACS Ireland have written again to Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, following up on our request for an urgent meeting to discuss the establishment of an independent inquiry for families impacted by Sodium…
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New Patient Information Leaflet Published for (Epilim▼) – Sodium Valproate
An updated Patient Information Leaflet has been published for women and girls that are taking Sodium Valproate (Epilim). The Patient Information Leaflet has been updated to incorporate further research which has taken place on the potential impacts of the drug…
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TD Letter – for our ongoing campaign for an Independent Inquiry for Families affected by Sodium Valproate (Epilim).
OACS Ireland are asking our members to write to their local TD to ask for their support for our ongoing campaign for an Independent Inquiry for Families affected by Sodium Valproate (Epilim). You can see more on our calls for…
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“Fatherhood, AEDs and good news for men with epilepsy”
Many of the families involved with OACS Ireland have reported that often young men with epilepsy who would like to have children with their partners worry that by taking Sodium Valproate (Epilim) or other anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) for their…
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OACS Ireland & Epilepsy Ireland on our Campaign for an Independent Inquiry (Epilim) Sodium Valproate in Ireland
Today marks one week since the publication of the ‘First Do No Harm’ report in the UK. In the wake of the report and it’s findings, OACS Ireland alongside our colleagues in Epilepsy Ireland called for an independent inquiry to…
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-New Government face demands for Independent Inquiry from families impacted by Sodium Valproate (Epilim) in Ireland -Independent Inquiry in UK recommends State Apology for victims-
The newly formed coalition Government must now commission an independent inquiry into the historical licencing and use of a common epilepsy drug according to patient groups, OACS Ireland and Epilepsy Ireland. Sodium Valproate (Epilim) has been licenced in Ireland…
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.