Depakote Birth Defects Mean Anti-Seizure Medication Could Be Dangerous
Depakote birth defects is now a proven thing if you or a loved one has experienced any of these Depakote birth defects please fill out the form and contact an experienced Depakote attorney.
Most people who suffer from epilepsy take some form of anti-seizure medication. There are lots of different drugs on the market today and it is always important to find the most appropriate drug for your needs. Some drugs work best for some people with specific types of epilepsy, while others should be avoided. One drug that should not be taken by women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant is Depakote. Depakote birth defects have been noted to occur with alarming regularity in patients who are taking this drug.
Depakote birth defects?
Depakote – otherwise known as divalproex sodium – is used to try and reduce the instances of a patient experiencing seizures. It does this by working to adjust the level of certain chemicals at work in the brain. These chemicals are thought to be part of the cause of some seizures; thus by taking Depakote, patients can reduce or eliminate the number of seizures they have.
Are Depakote birth defects Proven?
The drug has been around for quite some time now. Indeed there are reports online going back to 2004 that mention Depakote as a culprit in raising the chances of birth defects occurring in mothers who are taking the drug.
Studies have shown that women who take the drug are more likely to experience difficulties such as miscarriages and problems with the baby when born. Learning difficulties have also been noted in as much as 28% of those children who took part in the study. Their mothers were all taking Depakote during their pregnancy.
Depakote birth defects do not stop taking it without advice however.
It is never safe to stop taking any anti-epileptic medication suddenly. But if you are taking Depakote and you are trying to get pregnant, you should talk to your physician about swapping to another drug. Depakote birth defects can be avoided if the patient swaps to another anti-epileptic drug prior to trying for a baby.
What should you do if you have had a baby while taking Depakote and the child has side effects that may have been caused by your use of the drug?
If you are in this situation you should consider seeing an attorney who has already handled cases involving the Depakote drug for epilepsy. There are lawyers who specialize in seeing people who have been affected by this drug, and they will offer you a free initial consultation to see whether you have good cause to bring a case before the courts.
The chances are good that you will have a case for compensation if your child has been found to have birth defects of some kind. Some of these are more serious than others: for example some will shorten the child’s life as a result.
If you suspect your child has suffered from Depakote birth defects, contact an attorney today to find out if you can claim compensation for your child.