When treatment and trust collide: a pediatric valproate story
I decided not to give Depakine to my daughter anymore”. I froze when I heard her, but remained silent. She continued describing how her daughter’s health deteriorated after starting the anticonvulsant treatment. I never doubted my friend was a caring and responsible mother, so I kept listening. After several recurrent respiratory infections and a few cycles of antibiotics, her 6-year-old girl developed otitis media and a life-threatening pneumonia. Due to both professional and personal reasons, I was aware of the safety concerns regarding valproate.