Depakote, manufactured by Abbot Laboratories, was put on the market in 1983. The drug is an anti-epileptic used to treat seizures, bipolar disorder, and migraines. The drug is listed as a Pregnancy Category D drug and has a 4-fold increase in serious birth defects compared to other anticonvulsant drugs. This includes spina bifida, heart defects, craniofacial defects, cleft palate, cleft lip, and limb malformations.
In 2006, Abbott Laboratories added a black box warning about the risks of birth defects if Depakote was taken during pregnancy. In May 2010, researchers found that birth defects from Depakote occur early in the first trimester before most women even know that they are pregnant.
Unfortunately, Depakote has been used by many pregnant women, resulting in devastating birth defects and malformations.
Peterson & Associates, P.C. offers a FREE birth defect legal consultation.