Individuals are filing Topamax claims because the anticonvulsant drug allegedly causes birth defects in newborns. Pregnancy is a vulnerable time for the mother and child. Women go above and beyond to increase their chances of a healthy pregnancy and baby. Sadly, manufacturers failed to inform the public about the risk of birth defects associated with Topamax. If you took Topamax while pregnant and your baby was born with birth defects such as a cleft lip, a Topamax lawyer can help you.
The Lake Law Firm is representing individuals whose infants were born with birth defects after exposure to Topamax during pregnancy. Topamax lawsuits allege Janssen Pharmaceuticals neglected to include birth defects on the warning label. One of our experienced Topamax lawyers can support and guide you in filing a Topamax claim.
Janssen Pharmaceuticals received FDA approval for Topamax in 1996. Topamax is an anticonvulsant medication used to prevent and control seizures. This drug comes in the form of small yellow tablets and is available by prescription only. Topamax helps epileptic patients by stopping brain cells from working too fast, which can result in seizures.
Aside from epilepsy, doctors may prescribe Topamax to treat migraines. Also, some people may take Topamax for off-label purposes like weight loss, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and alcohol use disorder. However, the FDA has not approved the drug for these purposes.
Unwanted side effects from drugs are not uncommon. But, manufacturers have a duty to inform patients about potential risks. Topamax’s label did notify patients about several side effects, including nausea, weight loss, and diarrhea. Yet, the manufacturer did not mention a major potential consequence associated with Topamax: birth defects.
Researchers discovered that taking Topamax while pregnant may increase the baby’s risk of developing cleft lip, cleft palate, or hypospadias. In 2011, the North American Antiepileptic Drug (NAAED) Pregnancy Registry published a study examining the effects of antiepileptic drugs like Topamax on pregnant women. Oral clefts were 1.4% more prevalent in infants exposed to Topamax compared to 0.38% – 0.55% for other antiepileptic drugs. Also, the UK Epilepsy and Pregnancy Register reported a 16-fold increase in oral clefts among infants exposed to Topamax.
Even before this 2011 data, a study published in the Neurology journal in 2008 observed the risk of oral clefts in children born to mothers who took Topamax while pregnant was 11 times the average rate.
In 2011, the FDA released a safety communication to advise patients about an increased risk of birth defects in children born to mothers treated with Topamax. Based on the NAAED study, the FDA stated Topamax can increase the risk of oral clefts by 21.3%. The agency noted that women of childbearing age should consider alternative treatments. If a healthcare provider decides to prescribe Topamax to childbearing women, the FDA recommended they take birth control.
Soon after the FDA’s announcement, individuals began pursuing Topamax lawsuits.
Topamax lawyers are helping individuals file lawsuits for birth defects allegedly caused by the prescription drug. Babies of women treated with Topamax may develop:
Oral clefts can lead to problems with eating and speaking and even cause ear infections. Also, oral clefts may affect teeth development. All of these conditions require costly surgical procedures to correct. With the help of a Topamax lawyer from The Lake Law Firm, you can recover compensation to cover your child’s medical bills.
Families of children born with birth defects after exposure to Topamax are filing Topamax lawsuits against Janssen Pharmaceuticals. Claimants state that Janssen Pharmaceuticals should have warned them about the risk of birth defects when taking Topamax while pregnant. Topamax lawsuits argue there was evidence dating back years that Topamax may increase the chance of birth defects. However, the drugmaker did not update its labeling until the FDA addressed these undisclosed side effects in 2011.
Pregnant women took Topamax for roughly 15 years with no indication that the drug could result in birth defects. In fact, from January 2007 through December 2010, approximately 32.3 million Topamax prescriptions were dispensed. Pregnant women could have sought alternative treatments had they known about the possible dangers of Topamax.
If you need assistance filing a claim, one of our Topamax lawyers is available to speak with you. Pursuing a lawsuit on your own can be challenging, especially against a large corporation like Janssen Pharmaceuticals. Through our experience handling drug injury claims, The Lake Law Firm can fight for you.
There have been favorable Topamax settlements and verdicts for individuals who claim the drug causes birth defects.
In late 2013, two families filed Topamax birth defect claims against Janssen Pharmaceuticals in Philadelphia. These Topamax lawsuits alleged the company knew about the risk of birth defects as early as 1997. However, Topamax lawyers argued Janssen hid safety reports and did not warn doctors. The jury awarded the families two major Topamax verdicts:
Another family received a $3 million Topamax verdict after their son was born with birth defects due to exposure to Topamax during pregnancy.
Janssen Pharmaceuticals agreed to a Topamax settlement for 76 lawsuits in 2014. The amount of this settlement was not made public.
If you took Topamax while pregnant and your child was born with birth defects, a Topamax lawyer can help you recover compensation for:
The Lake Law Firm was founded by Edward J. Lake, Esq., a personal injury lawyer for over 25 years. Our dedicated team of attorneys is committed to seeking justice on behalf of those who have suffered injury or death due to the negligence of others. Our experienced attorneys handle many different types of pharmaceutical drugs, medical devices, and other defective products. The lawyers in our firm have helped collect millions of dollars for their clients. A Topamax lawyer at The Lake Law Firm will advocate for you and your rights. Please contact us for a free confidential case evaluation at (888) 525-3529 or submit an inquiry on this page.
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