Anticonvulsant:Amedicationused tocontrol(prevent) seizures (convulsions) or stop an ongoing series ofseizures. There are a large number ofanticonvulsantdrugs today including, but not limited to:phenobarbital,phenytoin(Dilantin),carbamazepine,levetiracetam(Keppra), ethosuximide (Zarontin),clonazepam(Klonopin),diazepam(Valium),lorazepam(Ativan), and midazolam (Versed). Anticonvulsant drugs taken during pregnancy put the baby at risk ofmajorbirth defects -- growth retardation, microcephaly (a small head) and deformities of the face and fingers -- aconditionknown as anticonvulsant embryopathy.
