Cleft Palate & Depakote Birth Defects

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Depakote Linked to Cleft Palate

Free Depakote Case Evaluation: If you or a loved one has taken Depakote while pregnant and given birth to a child with birth defects, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit and we can help.

What’s the problem?

Cleft lip and cleft palate are variations of a type of clefting congenital deformity caused by abnormal facial development during gestation. A cleft is a fissure or opening – a gap. It is the non-fusion of the body’s natural structures that form before birth. Approximately 1 in 700 children born have a cleft lip and / or a cleft palate.

Children born to women taking Depakote are more likely to have birth defects such as cleft palate and other problems. Researchers say that if possible women should avoid taking this medication during their childbearing years. Studies have shown that these problems were more common when women took Depakote during pregnancy compared with women who took the newer drug Lamictal.

Death of the fetus, birth defects, and developmental delays, such as walking and speech delays, occurred in 28 percent of children whose mothers took Depakote compared with just 2% of children whose mothers took Lamictal.

Depakote Birth Defects Update 1/24/13: A new study has determined that Depakote can cause lowered IQ’s and other cognitive deficiencies in children born to mothers who take the drug during pregnancy. Specifically, the research found that babies exposed to Depakote in the womb had IQ’s that were seven to 10 points lower than other children at age six, as well as reduced language skills and memory capacity. Click here to learn more.

Do I have a Depakote Lawsuit?

The Product Liability Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus exclusively on the representation of plaintiffs in Depakote lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new cases in all 50 states.