Women Who Took Topamax During Pregnancy

Posted by Lawsuit Information on July 29th, 2015

Topamax is an anticonvulsant drug which has been associated with birth defects. There are now lawsuits against this drug because of these birth defects. This drug was originally approved by the FDA to help reduce seizure episodes and then later approved to help with migraines. Unfortunately, as is the case with many drugs, tests were not properly done on this drug before it was dispersed and it has had irreversible effects on innocent children.

Now that the manufacturer knows the serious birth defects it causes, it should be pulled from the market but it is still being prescribed to unsuspecting pregnant and nursing mothers. The manufacturer Janssen Pharmaceuticals has been the target of many criminal charges for creating dangerous drugs and marketing illegally to make a profit. This drug’s information on the label has been updated but originally the company only listed the most common side effects and called them moderate although they are severe. The company downplayed how seriously dangerous this drug is and now the FDA has required them to label the drug more specifically. This doesn’t mean that people will take the label seriously or even read it.

If you took the drug while pregnant or a generic equivalent of the active ingredient topiramate, you may be eligible for compensation for your loss and for your child’s loss. This is a dangerous drug for both the mother and the infant. Mothers have experienced, suicidal thoughts, neurological problems, hypothermia and glaucoma. Women have also experienced hyperammonemia, metabolic acidosis, nausea, diarrhea, taste change, loss of appetite, nervousness, upper respiratory tract infection, adverse cognitive reactions and adverse neuropsychiatric reactions.

Some of the most common birth defects that have been linked to Topamax are: limb and lung deformities, cleft palate, heart defects, neural tube defects such as spina bifida as well as persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn.

The scary truth is that babies are 16 times more likely to have birth defects if their mothers took topamax during pregnancy. This was reported in 2007. Furthermore, the risk of cleft palate among mothers that took this drug was higher than mothers who took other anticonvulsant drugs and higher than mothers not on one of these drugs as well.

The FDA has now stated that there is an increased risk of cleft lip and cleft palate in babies whose mothers took Topamax or the generic brands of topiramate. The FDA rates this drug as a category D risk which means that the fetus is at risk according to data studies of humans. If you believe your child suffered a birth defect from the use of Topamax or a generic equivalent you should contact a qualified lawyer to speak to them for a free consultation about your case. You may be eligible for compensation for your medical, financial and emotional costs as well as those of your child. Furthermore, if you are taking topamax and become pregnant you should tell your doctor immediately. Please share this information in your community because the more lawsuits are brought against this drug, the sooner justice will be brought to this situation and hopefully the faster these birth defects will come to an end.