Depacon (vallproic acid) is an antiepileptic drug used to treat a wide range of seizure disorders. There are many benefits that patients receive from certain antiepileptic drugs. However these drugs (AEDs) don’t go without certain side effects. Some common side effects from AEDs are migraine headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, sleepiness, weakness, change in taste, numbness or tingling of the skin, and psychiatric disorders. The risks that are involved with older, more tested AEDs are known. The same cannot be said about the new generation of AEDs. The medical world does not have enough information to accurately speculate on what potential risks are associated with the new drugs.
One concern that is associated with antiepileptic drugs is their ability to interfere with the development of an embryo fetus that can lead to birth defects or developmental malformations. In the August issue of Neurology, (2006) Author Kimford J. Meador, MD and colleagues claim that the effect of Depakote had to do with the amount prescribed.
Furthermore, congenital malformations and fetal deaths were more common in pregnancies of women taking Depacon. AED therapy is an important part to a successful pregnancy for women with epilepsy. The AED therapy helps control and minimize the patients seizures during pregnancy.
Due to the facts that 1) many studies have shown that AED therapy is connected with major congenital malformations, and that 2) that the manufacturer of Depacon failed time and again to warn its customers of the risk for birth defects associated with Depacon, a number of Depacon lawsuits are currently being filed.
If you or a loved one used Depacon during pregnancy and your child was born with a birth defect, you may be entitled to significant financial compensation. For more information on Depacon or a free, no-obligation Depacon case consultation, please feel free to call or e-mail our offices at the information provided below.
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Our Depacon Lawsuit Information page is a great place to start if you have any questions about the association between Depacon and birth defects.