Declining trend in valproate use in Finland among females of childbearing age in 2012-2016 - a nationwide registry-based outpatient study.

The rates of female VPA users with childbearing potential have decreased in all three major indication groups in Finland during recent years, especially after the European Medicines Agency restrictions were published in 2014. However, it still remains open to question as to whether the practice of VPA use follows current guidelines. A special concern is the relatively high prevalence of off-label use of VPA in fertile-aged females.