Depakote Pregnancy Use Linked to Higher Autism Risk
By Christina Drury
Many women take prescription drugs while pregnant believing that these drugs are safe for their growing fetus. In some instances, however, these drugs prove to be more harmful than good, but the side effects aren’t known until the baby is born. One of the drugs to recently come under scrutiny is Depakote, also known as valproate. While Depakote has had its fair share of media scrutiny due to congenital birth defects, it only recently came under scrutiny as a precursor to problems with a child’s development, and more specifically, Autism.
Study Published in JAMA Links Autism to Depakote
A study published on April 23, 2013 in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) explored the link between Depakote use and Autism. While the study was carried out in Denmark, the results are still applicable globally.
The study evaluated over 650,000 babies that were born between the years of 1996 and 2006. The babies were tracked for an average period of eight years. A considering factor in the study was whether or not the mother took valproate before or during pregnancy.
It was determined that maternal use of valproate during pregnancy was associated with a significantly increased risk of autism spectrum disorder and childhood autism. Autism spectrum disorders include autistic disorder, Asperger syndrome, atypical autism, and other unspecified developmental disorders.
Women of Child-Bearing Age at Greatest Risk
Half of the pregnancies in the U.S. are considered to be unplanned pregnancies and as a result, researchers state that it is better to err on the side of caution when prescribing drugs to women of childbearing age. Waiting until a woman is pregnant is considered too high of a risk, and puts the fetus at an unnecessary risk of birth defects, according to the studies. Women of childbearing age should be placed on alternative drugs or at the lowest possible effective dose in order to prevent or lessen the risk of an autism diagnosis.
These women should not avoid taking medication for their epileptic condition or other psychiatric disorders as they can be very sensitive to medication changes or discontinuation. Rather, they should discuss the situation with their physicians to come to the best possible conclusion for both the mother and the baby.
Legal Help is Available for Depakote Birth Defects
If you or someone that you know had a child who was diagnosed with autism or a birth defect you believe was caused by Depakote or valproate pregnancy use, you might be eligible to join in on a class action lawsuit or personal drug injury lawsuit against the drug maker. Visit the Depakote Birth Defects Class Action Lawsuit Investigation for more information. Monetary compensation may be available for those who can prove their claims through medical history and the use of Depakote.
Updated April 25th, 2013
All medical device, dangerous drug and medical class action and lawsuit news updates are listed in the Drug and Medical Device section of Top Class Actions.
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