Depakote (valproate semisodium), a  medication used to treat patients suffering from epilepsy, bipolar disorder, and migraine headaches, has been linked with birth defects when taken during the first trimester of pregnancy.

In 1983, Abbott Laboratories introduced its new epilepsy treatment Depakote to the U.S. drug market. During the first year alone, over 2 million Depakote prescriptions were filled, and since then its popularity has only grown with many off-brand versions of this anti-seizure drug being created and sold.

By 2002, Depakote was approved and regularly prescribed to treat other types of health problems beyond epilepsy, including migraines, pancreatitis, and bipolar disorder. Because of the expanding scope of use for Depakote, over 27 million Americans were taking this Abbott-manufactured drug in 2002. However, while the drug provides many health benefits, Depakote also has side effects believed to cause birth defects.

In 2007, the FDA issued a drug warning to pregnant women, informing them that Depakote had been linked with increased risk of serious birth defects. Since then, this anti-seizure drug has been categorized as a Class D drug for pregnant women, which means animal studies resulted in adverse reactions.

While no human Depakote studies have been performed, given that human infants cannot be used for such testing, several mothers have claimed they took Depakote while pregnant and later gave birth to children with birth defects.

The pregnant women allegedly also exhibited several Depakote side effects when taking this medication.

Depakote Birth Defects and Side Effects

According to a recent Depakote birth defects study, women who take Depakote while pregnant, especially during the first trimester, face an increased risk of giving birth to a baby with birth defects. According to the Depakote study, the fetus of a woman taking Depakote while pregnant is two to seven times more likely to develop birth defects compared to fetuses of mothers who did not take the anti-seizure medication.

Some potential Depakote birth defects include:

• Brain defects
• Decreased IQ
• Atrial septal defect
• Cleft lip
• Cleft palate
• Spina bifida
• Cardiovascular defects

In addition to the FDA’s Depakote birth defects warning, a Depakote study was performed by researchers from the University of Groningen, which suggests that women who use Depakote may experience other side effects in addition to an increased risk of giving birth to children with Depakote birth defects.

These Depakote side effects include:

• Nausea
• Tremors
• Headaches
• Diarrhea
• Impaired memory
• Hair loss
• Weight gain
• Coma
• Osteoporosis
• Pancreatitis

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently released a study investigating the Depakote side effects on breastfeeding infants.

It found that when Depakote is taken it enters the mother’s bloodstream and milk supply, causing some infants to experience sedation and drowsiness while breastfeeding. However, when the women stopped taking Depakote, these side effects cleared up.

A Depakote class action lawsuit investigation has been launched. Women who claim they took Depakote prior to 2010 and then gave birth to a child with birth defects may be eligible to participate in this Depakote birth defects class action investigation.