Depakote Lawsuits Due to Birth Defects

06th January 2011
By Aaron Kelly in Medical Malpractice
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Depakote, or known by a generic name of Valproate Semisodium, and Divalproex sodium is a drug that was marketed by Abbott, it is prescribed to treat manic episodes of bipolar disorder. Many doctors are prescribing it to prevent from someone having a manic and depressive episode. This is for people battling bipolar disorder, as it can also help treat epilepsy in some cases.

Unfortunately this drug been the reason for may serious side effects associated with Depakote. The FDA, or Food and Drug Administration classified this drug a category D for use in pregnancy. The category D means that there is evidence of human fetal risk based on reactions data through investigational or marketing experiences as well in studies in humans. However, the drug’s potential benefits may be used if warranted that the benefits outweigh the potential risks of a pregnant woman.

The many side effects that have occurred now have given the manufacturer a class action lawsuit. Depakote lawsuits for birth defects while they gave the mother Depakote believing that the medicine was worth taking compared to the chance of the side effects. Women that are pregnant or likely to get pregnant should not use Depakote.

Some of the dangerous side effects of Depakote, that is causing Depakote lawsuit, is cleft palate, Hypoplastic right heart which the condition will result in an underdeveloped right side of the heart, testes undescended, malformations of the hands, abnormally developed ribs, and more such as spina bifida which is when the spinal column does not completely closed in the spinal cord, leaving that spinal cord opened.

Depakote can cause liver problems that will need immediate medical treatment. Symptoms of liver problems, can be; dark urine, loss of appetite, fever, vomiting, as well as blood in the urine. It has been discovered by doctors of a study they did there are twenty-percent of women who took Depakote when they were pregnant and gave birth to an infant with severe birth defects. As well women that took a higher dose were even more likely to have birth defects of children. Women who were taking higher doses are more likely to have fetal trauma up to twenty-four percent higher chance of the fetal trauma.

So, if you or a child you know is a victim of a birth injury, from this taking this medication, you may be entitled to financial compensation from a class action lawsuit for your pain and suffering. The statute of limitations in your state may differ from state to state. There is help out there for them. This will not offer you a medical fix, but it will make the company have to answer to what the medicine has done to them.
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