Depakote Pregnancy Risks Include Birth Defects

Risk May Far Outweigh Benefits for Some

When a doctor treats a patient with any drug, its use is for the benefit of the patient. In most cases the patient is able to live a more productive life with the help of a drug, which helps to control illnesses or disorders. But when the side effects may potentially outweigh the benefits, it is up to the patient to discuss with their doctor if these potentially harmful effects should affect their decision to take the drug.

This is the case with Depakote. The drug is successful at treating seizures, bipolar disorder and migraines. However, when an expecting mother takes the drug during pregnancy there can be a high risk for birth defects or development delays. The latter of which will not surface until the child begins to develop outside the womb. In the case of a pregnant woman who is epileptic, the risk is reduced because the benefits of Depakote outweigh the birth defect risk. For the patient who has migraines and becomes pregnant, however, the risk may outweigh the treatment.

Depakote Tied to Birth Defects

In recent history some serious risks have been found to be associated with Depakote use during pregnancy to the unborn child. Some of the known risks are as follows:

• Spina Bifida
• Neural tube defects
• Cleft palate
• Coarctation of the aorta
• Atrial septal defects

In 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning about the risks involved with taking Depakote while pregnant. They had urged women to seek other treatments for non-life threatening conditions such as migraines. They also warned in 2011 that unborn children that were exposed to the drug were at a higher risk for lower cognitive test scores.

In a recent Depakote birth defect lawsuit filed on January 25, 2013, at Illinois Southern District Court, an unidentified male plaintiff alleges he developed spina bifida due to his mother’s use of Depakote during her first months of pregnancy with him. Plaintiffs in other Depakote birth defect lawsuits allege they did not have enough information about the possible risks the drug could cause to their unborn children and therefore were not given the option to choose another medication.

Seek Legal Help for Depakote Birth Defects

If you or a loved one was born with birth defects you believe were caused by Depakote or another medication, you have legal options. Visit the Depakote Class Action Lawsuit Investigation to receive a free case review from a qualified, compassionate birth defect attorney. The review and any consultation is absolutely free.