Defective Drug Lawyers
Depakote Lawsuits, Depakote Birth Defect Lawsuits | Depakote Birth Defects, Depakote Birth Defect Side Effects, Depakote Side Effects
The leading law firm of Alonso Krangle LLP is investigating potential Depakote lawsuits on behalf of children born with serious birth defects that may be associated with their mother’s use of Depakote during pregnancy. The defective drug lawyers at Alonso Krangle LLP understand the heavy emotional and financial burdens birth defects can impose on families. Our firm is committed to ensuring that victims of Depakote birth defects get the justice they deserve.
Our Depakote lawyers know that no amount of money can truly make up for your child’s suffering. However, filing a Depakote lawsuit against Abbott Laboratories and other responsible parties can ensure access to the financial resources needed to cover your child’s medical bills, rehabilitation, and other future needs. To learn more about obtaining justice for your baby through a Depakote lawsuit, please contact the Depakote lawyers at Alonso Krangle LLP.
Depakote Risks of Birth Defects
Depakote, known generically as dilvalproex sodium and classified as an anticonvulsant, can be prescribed in the treatment of epilepsy, bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder. It has also been used to treat the painful side effects of other conditions, such as autism, neuropathy and migraines. Similar medications produced by other manufacturers include Depacon (valproate sodium), Depakene (valproic acid) and Stavzor (valproic acid).
In 2009, the FDA issued a public warning, stating that pregnant women taking Depakote and similar drugs had an increased risk of having a baby with certain birth defects. Subsequent research, such as that conducted at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, found that pregnant women who took Depakote had a significantly increased risk of having a child born with spina bifida, with that risk being 12 times greater than the risk for expecting mothers not taking this drug. Another study of the European Surveillance of Congenital Anomalies database found that pregnant women had additional increased risks of Depakote birth defects; specifically, pregnant Depakote patients, when compared to expecting mothers not taking the medication, were:
- Seven times more likely to have a baby born with craniosynostosis, a skull deformity that can cause life-long impairments if it intensifies pressure on the developing brain
- Five times more likely to have a baby born with cleft palate
- Five times more likely to have a baby born with hypospadias, a potentially severe condition involving abnormalities of male babies genitalia
- Two times more likely to have a baby born with atrial septal defect, a serious heart condition that is colloquially referred to as a “hole in the heart”
- Two times more likely to have a baby born with polydactyly, a deformity in which more than five fingers are on one or more of a baby’s hands.
The FDA has advised that women taking Depakote who are not actively planning a pregnancy should use effective birth control, as birth defect risks are particularly high during the first trimester, before many women know they are pregnant. Given the risk of spina bifida and other birth defects, the American Academy of Neurology recommends that Depakote not be used during pregnancy.
Spina Bifida Birth Defects
Because the most common birth defect linked to Depakote use is spina bifida, its important that pregnant women understand the nature and symptoms of this disabling, potentially painful condition. Spina bifida occurs when a developing baby’s spinal canal does not close normally. It is the most common birth defect that causes life-long disability. The most severe form of spina bifida is called myelomeningocele, and it often causes a protruding sac near the spine. Other, less severe types of this birth defect are spina bifida occulta, the most common type, and meningocele, the rarest type.
Some of the permanent disabilities that babies born with spina bifida can face may include:
- Paralysis
- Bowel incontinence
- Bladder incontinence
- Altered skin sensation
- Difficulty walking
- Gastrointestinal disorders
- Mental and social problems
- Depression
- Learning disabilities
Filing A Depakote Lawsuit Due To A Birth Defect
At Alonso Krangle, LLP, we understand how horrific it can be for babies to be born with birth defects that are possibly caused to dangerous medications. Our Depakote lawyers are dedicated to representing victims rights, and we have the experience and legal knowledge to aggressively litigate against even the biggest corporations. We offer free consultations to those injured by Depakote or any defective drug, and we can provide them with experienced legal advice regarding their best options for moving forward. To learn more about the legal options available to you and how you can file a Depakote lawsuit, please contact the Depakote lawyers at Alonso Krangle LLP by filling out our online form or calling us.
Other News Regarding Depakote Lawsuits
ABC News Antiseizure Drug Increases Birth Defect Risk
Psych Central Depakote Has High Birth Defects Rate Among Antiepileptics
Web MD Seizure Medication Linked to Birth Defects : Problems More Common in Children of Women Taking Depakote
[ http://www.webmd.com/epilepsy/news/20040430/seizure-medication-linked-to-birth-defects ]