Depakote Attorney

Depakote Attorneys Helping Women Who Took Depakote While Pregnant File Depakote Lawsuits

Recent research has identified a possible link between the use of Depakote during pregnancy and a number of devastating birth defects in infants whose are exposed to the drug in utero. If you took Depakote while pregnant and your child was born with a major birth defect, contact a Depakote attorney to discuss your legal options. You may have grounds to file a lawsuit against the drug's manufacturing company, and a Depakote attorney can provide you with the necessary information should you decide to follow this course of action.

Depakote is a prescription anticonvulsant medication manufactured by a pharmaceutical company called Abbott Laboratories. Since the drug garnered FDA approval in 1983, Depakote has been approved for the treatment of epileptic seizures, the prevention of migraine headaches, and as a mood stabilizer for individuals suffering from bipolar disorder. Depakote is a chemical compound consisting of valproate sodium and valproic acid, and the drug functions by inhibiting the brain signals which are responsible for causing seizure-related episodes.

Depakote Side Effects - Birth Defects

Since its inception, approximately 2.4 million Depakote prescriptions have been filled across the United States. Unfortunately, the past several years have resulted in numerous studies which have revealed a potential connection between Depakote use and the development of severe birth defects in infants. Depakote attorneys are currently investigating claims related to these Depakote birth defects. Among the birth defects allegedly associated with the use of Depakote are:

• Cleft palate
• Spina bifida
• Growth retardation
• Fetal death
• Heart malformations
• Hand deformations
• Skeletal defects
• Neural tube birth defects
• Facial dysmorphism
• Fetal valproate syndrome
• Hypoplasia
• Hypoplastic right heart syndrome
• Iniencephaly
• Hydranencephaly

Many of these alleged Depakote birth defects have the potential to cause significant complications for an affected child, often requiring extensive medical treatment and long-term care. These birth defects may result in severe physical suffering for the victim, as well as devastating emotional and financial difficulties for the victim's family. A Depakote attorney can help with the financial difficulties a family must deal with.

Some of the most serious birth defects potentially associated with Depakote are neural tube birth defects like spina bifida, hydranencephaly, and iniencephaly. Spina bifida is caused by the incomplete closure of the neural tube during fetal development, which leaves an opening in the vertebrae which protect the spinal cord. Children born with spina bifida may suffer from paralysis, incontinence, attention deficit disorders, and other learning difficulties. A Depakote attorney will already have experience filing a Spina bifida claim. Hydranencephaly is also caused by a defect of the neural tube, in which a child's cerebral hemispheres are absent, replaced by sacs filled with cerebrospinal fluid. This is the type of claim Depakote attorneys must review regularly. Iniencephaly is a relatively rare neural tube birth defect in which a child's head is extremely retroflexed, or bent backwards. Infants with iniencephaly are often born without a neck, with the skin of the face connected directly to the chest, and the skin of the scalp connected directly to the back. Children born with this condition are often plagued with additional complications, including severe spinal defects and the absence of critical parts of the brain.

Contact a Depakote Attorney

Despite the dangers allegedly associated with the use of Depakote, the drug is still on the market today. If you or a loved one has suffered from a birth defect which you believe to be linked to the use of the anticonvulsant drug, Depakote, fill out the Depakote contact form on this page to discuss your legal options with a qualified Depakote attorney. You are not responsible for any adverse side effects which may have resulted from Depakote use and, with the help of an experienced Depakote attorney, you can seek financial compensation for your injuries, medical expenses, and the pain and suffered endured by you and your family.

Depakote FDA Warnings

Depakote has been labeled a pregnancy category D medication by the FDA, due to the drug's potential to cause severe, life-threatening harm to a human fetus when taken during pregnancy. Depakote attorneys know how to research the science behind these drugs and how they are presented to the FDA. The allegedly harmful nature of Depakote has been apparent for several years and has been under investigation by Depakote attorneys since then. In 2006, the FDA required Abbott to include a “black box” warning on the drug's label, warning patients about the potential teratogenicity of Depakote, which is defined as the capability of a drug to interfere with fetal development, thereby producing fetal malformations. The FDA has also required Abbott to include a medication guide with every Depakote prescription informing Depakote users about the potential dangers associated with the drug.

In 2010, the FDA issued an official warning statement to patients and healthcare professionals concerning the increased risk of major birth defects among infants exposed to Depakote or valproate sodium during pregnancy. The FDA notice included birth defects like:

• Craniofacial malformations (cleft palate or defects of the face and skull)
• Neural tube birth defects (defects of the brain and spinal cord)
• Heart malformations (abnormally formed heart or blood vessels)

If you are currently taking Depakote and you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, consult your physician to discuss alternative treatment options. You should never stop taking a prescription medication without medical consent, as this may cause further adverse side effects. But with your doctor's help, you may be able to find a safer way to treat your medical condition without taking Depakote.

A Depakote Attorney Can Help

Depakote attorneys understand that victims of adverse side effects potentially associated with the use of a defective drug are not at fault for their injuries. Pharmaceutical companies like Abbott Laboratories are responsible for the safety and effectiveness of their medications and should be held accountable for any defects in their products which may cause unnecessary harm to consumers. Unfortunately, some drug manufacturing companies intentionally conceal dangerous drug information in order to prevent a recall of their medication. This puts innocent consumers at risk of serious injury on a daily basis.

Following the diagnosis of a birth defect, victims and their families should be given adequate time to concentrate their attention and care on receiving the best care possible for the affected individual, without having to worry about developing a birth defect case as well. Fortunately, Depakote attorneys are well-versed in defective drug litigation and can guide potential birth defect victims through the legal process of filing a Depakote lawsuit. By contacting a Depakote attorney, alleged victims of Depakote birth defects can seek fair reimbursement and feel confident that their case is being represented by a professional.