Topamax Birth Defect Attorneys

Our Topamax birth defect attorneys help families who have been affected by Topamax cleft lip, cleft palate, and other Topamax birth defects. Manufactured by Johnson & Johnson subsidiaries Ortho-McNeil Neurologics and Noramco, Topamax (topiramate) is an anti-seizure medication prescribed to patients with epilepsy, and it is also used to treat migraines and bipolar disorder. Unfortunately, it is now common knowledge that Topamax taken during pregnancy can lead to cleft lip, cleft palate, and other birth defects.

At this moment, we are reviewing Topamax birth defect lawsuit claims. Attorneys at our firm are highly experienced in dangerous pharmaceutical litigation, and we can offer the help needed to obtain justice for families affected by Topamax birth defects.

Call us at 1-888-554-2889 to speak to our Topamax birth defect attorneys personally. We offer:

A free, no-obligation case evaluation with a Topamax birth defect lawyer
No fee unless we win your case
Flexible appointments
Help for families with Topamax birth defect claims Nationwide

Topamax Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate

Recent data from the North American Antiepileptic Drug Pregnancy Registry, mothers who use Topamax during the first trimester of pregnancy are at an increased risk for having babies with cleft lip and cleft palate birth defects. In March 2011, the FDA issued a Topamax birth defect warning, stating that cleft lip and cleft palate birth defects may be more common in babies born to mothers who took Topamax early in their pregnancy.

Known collectively as oral cleft birth defects, cleft lip and cleft palate birth defects occur when parts of the lip or palate do not completely fuse together. Oral cleft birth defects can be as minor as a small notch in the lip or as severe as an open groove that extends from the roof of the mouth to the nose. Cleft lip and cleft palate birth defects can result in an increased risk of ear infections and problems with eating and talking.

Topamax Birth Defects

In addition to cleft palate and cleft lip, babies born to mothers who took Topamax during pregnancy are at risk for being born with the following serious and potentially fatal birth defects:

PPHN (Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension in Newborns)
Heart birth defects such as septal heart birth defects
Craniosynostosis and other cranial birth defects
Omphalocele and other abdominal birth defects

The FDA has reclassified Topamax from Pregnancy Category C to Pregnancy Category D, meaning that positive evidence links Topamax to human fetal risk, but it still may be acceptable for pregnant women to use the drug in some cases.

Many Topamax birth defects are formed during the first trimester, when many women may not even know they are pregnant. For this reason, physicians are urged to consider alternatives when prescribing Topamax and other anti-seizure medications to all women of childbearing age. If women of childbearing age decide to use Topamax, the FDA cautions that they should also use some form of birth control to reduce the likelihood of having a baby with an oral cleft or other birth defect.

A Topamax birth defect lawsuit is not about financial gain in exchange for a baby’s compromised health, but rather about ensuring that that baby receives a lifetime of the very best care possible.

Contact an Experienced Topamax Birth Defect Lawyer

If you took Topamax during pregnancy and gave birth to a child with cleft palate, cleft lip, or another congenital birth defect, you may be entitled to significant compensation under the law. Each Topamax birth defect attorney at our pharmaceutical product liability law firm is intimately acquainted with all aspects of dangerous drug litigation, and we have the experience and resources you need to build a strong case for your child. Contact us today for a free and confidential Topamax birth defect claim evaluation.