Newer antiepileptic drugs are used to care seizures in pregnant women may cause growth impairment
in developing fetuses. There are little concern has been taken about pregnant women and their fetal development
(body weight) as well as the long-lasting impact on postnatal growth of the offspring. Sperm positive female Wistar
rats were exposed to different doses of third-generation antiepileptic drugs, clobazam (CLB) (1, 2 and 3 mg/kg) and
eslicarbazepine acetate (ESL) (123.33, 246.66 and 369.99 mg/kg) from gestation day (GD) 6-21 orally with control/
vehicle-treated subjects. Food and water were provided ad libitum to pregnant rats. On day GD 21, pregnant dams
were allowed to deliver naturally and their pups were reared up to the postnatal day (PND) 70. The offspring's body
weight was also recorded weekly up to 10th weeks of age. Gestational exposure to CLB and ESL induced a dosedependent
substantial reduction in fetal weight loss, and long-lasting negative impact on postnatal development and
growth of rat offspring at birth and continued till PND 70. This study concludes that in utero exposure to equivalent
therapeutic doses of CLB and ESL induced postnatal growth retardation and development of rat offspring. Further,
clinical and non-clinical studies are urgently warranted on this important therapeutic issue.