The Latest News from OACS Ireland
IMPORTANT UPDATE via the MHRA
In January 2020, relevant healthcare professionals were sent by post or Alliance Tote boxes (for pharmacies) a letter and updated educational materials. The MHRA Valproate guidance page has also been updated with the latest materials. https://www.gov.uk/drug-safety-update/valproate-epilim-depakote-pregnancy-prevention-programme-updated-educational-materials A reminder of key facts about…
More . . .(OACS Ireland) Our thanks to The Saturday Hospital Fund
OACS Ireland want, to express our deepest thanks for the support off the Hospital Saturday Fund donation to Organisation for Anticonvulsant Syndromes Ireland. The Saturday Hospital Fund has been a generous donor who provided OACS Ireland with the financial and…
More . . .UPDATE: #GE2020 Candidates Supporting OACS Ireland
#GE2020 Update on Candidates Supporting OACS Ireland With the General Election campaign in it’s final days, OACS Ireland (Organisation for Anti-Convulsant Syndrome have been busy reaching out to candidates seeking support for our manifesto for the next Dáil term. It…
More . . .Parties support investigation into sodium valproate prescription
OACS Ireland has received some incredible news: Parties support an investigation into sodium valproate prescription. SOURCE: Medical Independent (MI) By Catherine Reilly January 29, 2020 Sinn Féin has committed in its election manifesto to investigating the prescription of sodium valproate (Epilim),…
More . . .Organisation Anticonvulsant Syndromes Ireland 2020 Manifesto #GE2020
With the calling of the General Election, this represents an important opportunity to highlight our ongoing campaign for families affected by Sodium Valproate (Epilim) with prospective members of the 33rd Dáil. To that end, we have launched our General Election 2020 manifesto…
More . . .The Valproate Report Mystery
Where’s the Valproate Report? Senator Rose Conway-Walsh has been asking this for many months. Why the delay in releasing it? Don’t the Health Minister and his team comprehend the urgency of this report to the families of children with disabilities…
More . . .Reader response: Unintended pregnancy, prenatal care, new-born outcomes, and breastfeeding in women with epilepsy
Alain Braillon, Senior Consultant, University Hospital. 80000 Amiens. (Amiens, France) Susan Bewley, Pr., King’s College (London, UK) Published August 19, 2019 Pennell and Meador rightly expressed concern about reducing birth defects in women with epilepsy with their editorial endorsing the EURAP registry (a prospective registry of…
More . . .
1st National Conference on The Consequences of Sodium Valproate (Update)
As you may be aware OACS Ireland attended the 1st National Conference on The Consequences of Sodium Valproate in Trinity College Dublin on March 22nd 2019. This event was organised by the Health Service Executive, Epilepsy Ireland, OACS Ireland, Trinity…
More . . .National Conference on the Consequences of Sodium Valproate (Epilim)
For patients & families, healthcare professionals and policy makers Organised by the Health Service Executive, Epilepsy Ireland, OACS Ireland, Trinity College Dublin and the FACS Forum Friday March 22nd 2019 – 9.30am – 5pm Register: https://www.eventbrite.ie/ More Info: https://www.epilepsy.ie/content/national-conference-consequences-sodium-valproate-epilim-50-years Stanley…
More . . .Our New Website
Welcome to our new website and the home of OACS Ireland. OACS Ireland is a voluntary group, we provide support, help, and advice to other families, whose children have been affected by Foetal Anti-Convulsant Syndrome (F.A.C.S) in Ireland. Our Mission…
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.