The anticonvulsant epilepsy drug Fycompa has been approved for sale in Europe by the European Commission. Made by Eisai, Fycompa is used to inhibit the activity of AMPA receptors and lowers the hyperexcitation of nerves that cause seizures. So far, this is the first drug like this to get approval.
Fycompa was created to be used as an adjunctive treatment for epileptics 12 years old or older. Eisai is planning to begin selling Fycompa in the U.K. on September first. On July 26, 2012, the company announced that they had published the results from a study of Fycompa, which now appears in August’s issue of Neurology. The study showed that Fycompa was safe to use as a treatment for partial-onset seizures, which is the most common type of epilepsy.
This new drug by Eisai may prove to be a welcome addition to the list of medications that are used to treat seizures — especially since some of the medications currently on the market have proven to be dangerous. One of the medications being used to treat seizures in epileptic patients is Topamax, which has a skewed risk-to-benefit ratio. Topamax has also been linked to serious side effects for babies whose mothers take the drug while pregnant. Babies exposed to Topamax in-utero may be born with birth defects including PPHN, oral clefts, cleft palate, neural tube defects, spina bifida and heart, lung and brain defects. While one of the drug’s side effects — weight loss — is a popular reason for women to take Topamax, the risks to their babies is a better reason not to.
If your baby was born with any of these birth defects after being exposed to Topamax during gestation, contact Greg Jones today for a free consultation. I am experienced at fighting Topamax lawsuits and may be able to help you recover money for your baby’s injuries.