Topamax and Pregnancy Don’t Mix

Topamax (topiramate) is used as a migraine medication and to treat epileptic seizures. Off-label uses include obesity, bipolar disorder and alcohol addiction. The medication was recently upgraded from a category C to category D risk for pregnant women. This means there is clear, conclusive evidence the medication causes birth defects. Women whose infants may have been harmed by use of this product in pregnancy should consider a Topamax lawsuit.

Topamax and Pregnancy

The FDA labeled this medication a category D risk for pregnant women. This indicates a definitive link between Topamax and pregnancy problems, such as birth defects. Due to this strongly established risk, women who used this migraine medication and whose infants suffered abdominal defects or cranial defects should contact a Topamax lawyer.

Topamax Birth Defects

Research has shown a risk of oral Topamax birth defects that is 16 times higher in infants whose mothers took Topamax during pregnancy compared to babies born to moms who did not use the medication. Topamax is linked to significant increases in the incidence of cleft lip and cleft palate. The FDA issued a warning about this association in 2011.

The FDA has reported that 1.4 percent of infants exposed to Topamax in the womb will develop cleft lip or cleft palate. Physicians have been warned to consider similar medications with fewer associated birth defects in women of childbearing age. Topamax and pregnancy, it seems, is a dangerous combination.

Cleft Palate and Cranial Defects Caused by Topamax

Cleft lip and cleft palate are cranial defects which occur when a baby’s soft palate does not form correctly during the first three months of pregnancy. While some babies simply have a small, triangular notch in their upper lip, others may suffer from additional cranial deformities, such as problems in the roof of the mouth and near the nose. This can cause complications such as ear infections, speech impairment and difficulty eating.

Contact a Topamax Lawyer

Experienced Topamax lawyers at Chaffin Luhana can help you seek compensation if you used Topamax during pregnancy. This legal team has not only helped resolve Topamax lawsuits, but also litigated on behalf of families and children harmed by other medications such as OrthoEvra, Levaquin and Accutane. Contact them for a free consultation at 1-888-480-1123.