Depakote® and Birth Defects

Depakote® (valproic acid) is used to treat certain kinds of seizures. It also is used to treat mania (frenzied, unusually excited moods) in patients with bipolar disorder. Patients with migraines can be prescribed Depakote® to prevent migraines. Once a migraine has begun, however, the drug will not be able to treat it. The medication also is prescribed to treat:

• Aggressive outbursts in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Children with ADHD who have problems staying focused or remaining quiet compared to other children their age
• Chorea (certain conditions that affect the ability to control movement)
• Some conditions that affect thinking, learning, and understanding

The medication is prescribed in a variety of forms, including extended release tablet (acts over a long period of time), delayed release tablet and sprinkle capsule (contains small beads of medicine that can be sprinkled over food). The drug should be taken at the same time or times each day.

Birth Defects Associated with Depakote®

The FDA warned pregnant women taking Depakote® that the medication could have the following adverse effects on the child if the drug were taken during pregnancy:

• Lower cognitive (IQ) test scores than children of mothers not taking Depakote®
• Neural tube defects (defects of the brain and spinal cord, such as spina bifida)
• Malformations of the heart and blood vessels
• Craniofacial defects (abnormal formation of the face and skull)

The FDA recommends that pregnant women need to carefully weigh the benefits of the drug compared to the risk to the fetus when taking Depakote® during pregnancy. If other alternatives existed for treating their condition, such as a migraine, and the condition is not life-threatening, the FDA suggested women consider using alternative medications.

Side Effects of Depakote®

Aside from birth defects, the medication may produce dangerous side effects in some patients. The drug label contains a black box warning about the risk of serious or life-threatening damage to the liver. You should call your doctor immediately if you have any of the following symptoms possibly indicative of liver damage:

• Seizures that increase in frequency or severity
• Excessive fatigue
• Low energy
• Weakness
• Stomach pain
• Poor appetite
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Swelling of the face

The drug label also cautions about an increase in the risk of serious or life-threatening damage to the pancreas. This damage can occur at any time during treatment with Depakote®. You should call your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• Stomach pain
• Nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Vomiting

Contact a Depakote® Birth Defect Lawyer

If your baby is born with any type of birth defect such as a neural tube defect (defects of the brain and spinal cord, such as spina bifida), a malformation of the heart and blood vessels or a craniofacial defect (abnormal formation of the face and skull), you should contact a birth defect lawyer who may be able to help you seek compensation for your baby's suffering.

Birth defects range in severity from mild to severe and can affect the quality of your child's life. Our birth defect lawyers provide free case reviews for parents of infants born with birth defects, particularly those whose were exposed to medications such as Depakote® during their development.

To find out if and how we can help you, please contact our birth defect lawyers today.