Neurontin birth defects could be a potentially complicated situation, according to a public information page hosted by Stanford University. Neurontin is the trade name of a drug called Gabapentin. Neurontin was originally designed to treat seizures. But like many drugs that act on the brain, it was also found to help treat some psychiatric conditions, and the FDA has since approved Neurontin to treat anxiety and insomnia. Research also suggests that Neurontin could help treat chronic pain, such as pain suffered by fibromyalgia patients and others with neurological pain conditions. However, like many drugs, Neurontin could carry the risk of negative side effects. Neurontin has not been specifically studied in pregnant women. This is a special concern, because many other seizure and psychiatric drugs have been linked to various drug birth defects. Other seizure drugs have been found to increase the risk of heart defects such as atrial septal defects; skull and face defects like cleft lip, cleft palate, and craniosynostosis; and other serious birth defects. While this has not been demonstrated as conclusively in Neurontin, Neurontin has some properties that could make such concerns must more serious. Neurontin has a property in common with many other seizure drugs: it’s not easy to stop taking Neurontin. When patients stop taking seizure drugs, they run the risk of rebound seizures. Rebound seizures is a condition wherein patients suffer more seizures as their brains adjust to life without the seizure medication. Doctors recommend that patients who stop taking Neurontin try to taper off gradually over the course of at least seven days — with close medical supervision. Rebound seizures from Neurontin could complicate the risk of Neurontin birth defects. Since seizures during pregnancy are very dangerous for both mother and child, a woman on Neurontin who finds herself pregnant faces a difficult decision. She could continue on Neurontin, which has not been exhaustively studied in pregnant women, or she could risk rebound seizures by ceasing the drug. A Neurontin lawsuit investigation has been launched to explore the possibility of a Neurontin lawsuit against the Neurontin maker Pfizer. Such a Neurontin lawsuit could allege Pfizer did not do enough to protect mothers from the risk Neurontin birth defects by marketing Neurontin to women of childbearing years, despite allegedly inadequate evidence of the safety of Neurontin. Birth defect lawsuits typically seek to recoup the cost of medical care, lost income potential, and other costs allegedly stemming from birth defects.