This is a very common and complex situation that we are faced with in neurology. Unfortunately, just about every antiepileptic drug (if not all) is teratogenic has been known to cause fetal malformations, including depakote and tegretol. In one study, Depakote (the most teratogenic sz med)carried a 6% risk of major malformations and tegretol (the second most teratogenic) carried a 4% risk. On the other hand, not taking the meds runs the risk of birth and pregnancy complications due to the seizures themselves.
The American Epilepsy society's guideline regarding this is that the best medication for the epilepsy be used. In your particular case, there is a medication called Lamictal that we feel is better than tegretol at treating juvenile myoclonic epilepsy and in animal studies has not been shown to carry significant risk of malformation. For more info, contact The Epilepsy FOudnation at www.efa.org. Good luck and talk to your doctor. ANd don't forget to take folate!
Tegretol, accroding to my knowledge, is generally for generalized tonic-clonic seizures and complex-partial seizures. I don't believe that it is used that much for treating myoclonic seizures.
Best regards,
***headproblemz***