Across the country, expectant mothers with epilepsy are becoming wary of the medications they take to mange their symptoms. Neurontin is one such drug, after several mothers alleged that it caused their babies to be born with birth defects.

Neurontin (gabapentin) is a commonly used anticonvulsant that is popularly prescribed to treat various forms of epilepsy, as well as for the off-label purpose of treating chronic nerve pain. However, this drug has been linked to severe birth defects and has caused many women to be wary of taking the drug while pregnant.

While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) did categorize Neurontin as a category C drug, indicating that this drug did have negative effects on animal fetuses, there are no sufficient studies on the fetuses humans.

While physicians still prescribe category C drugs to pregnant women, it is typically only when the benefits outweigh the risks of the drug. However, many women who were prescribed Neurontin during pregnancy complained that their physicians were not adequately informed of the risks of birth defects and were misled about the likelihood of occurrence.

At the same time, Neurontin can treat numerous epileptic conditions, making the number of in-need patients enormous. Therefore, medical experts encourage women with epilepsy to research different treatment options, as well as consult their physicians about which drugs would be safest during pregnancy.

Furthermore, prescribing physicians should also educate themselves about the different side effects epilepsy drugs could inflict on patients and have a variety of alternative medications ready to offer concerned expectant mothers.

Lastly, the FDA ultimately advises that pregnant women should always weigh the risks and benefits of their epilepsy drugs and consult their physicians before making their decision.

In the case that the woman is not yet pregnant but may soon become pregnant, medical experts recommend that women should start taking folic acid supplements along side their epilepsy medications, to help lower the risks of birth defects in the spine or brain.

Overview of Neurontin Birth Defects Allegations

Despite the risks, Neurontin remains one of the most preferred antiepileptic drugs on the market, with thousands of new prescribers signing up every year. The popularity of Neurontin stems from not only its many approved uses, but also from its preference among patients.

This drug can also be prescribed to pediatric and adolescent patients suffering from partial seizures. While originally approved by the FDA in 1993 and manufactured solely by Pfizer, there are now many generic versions available after its patent expired in 2003.

However, regardless of which drug maker produces the Neurontin it is the manufacturing company’s responsibility to warn patients of all the side effects their product could inflict.

This is especially important for expectant mothers and their unborn children during the first trimester of pregnancy, the most crucial development stage of the fetus.

Pfizer and other generic Neurontin producers may face birth defect lawsuits from the families of the affected children. Many of them claim that the mothers never would have taken Neurontin if they had known about the possibility of birth defects.

The birth defects allegedly caused by Neurontin include:

• Cleft palate
• Craniosynostosis (skull malformations)
• Cardiac complications
• Hydroureter or hydronephrosis
• Hypospadias (an abnormal opening in the urethra of boys)
• Polydactyly (extra fingers or toes)
• Spina bifida