Another study is highlighting the link between a pregnant woman’s use of the anti-seizure drug Depakote to an increased risk that the baby born to her will suffer from autism. This study was published in the April 24 issue of JAMA, and adds further proof of the epileptic medication’s links to birth defects.
“Anti-epileptic drug exposure during pregnancy has been associated with an increased risk for congenital malformations and delayed cognitive development in the offspring, but little is known about the risk of other serious neuropsychiatric disorders,” according to background information in the article.
During the study, the lead author, Dr. Jakob Christensen, Ph.D., of Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark, and his team monitored the links between the maternal use of Valproate during pregnancy and the risks of autism in the offspring. The study was based on the population of kids born in Denmark from 1996 to 2006.
“In this population-based cohort study, children of women who used Valproate during pregnancy had a higher risk of autism spectrum disorder and childhood autism compared with children of women who did not use Valproate. Their risks were also higher than those for children of women who were previous users of Valproate but who stopped before their pregnancy,” the researchers write. “Because autism spectrum disorders are serious conditions with lifelong implications for affected children and their families, even a moderate increase in risk may have major health importance.”
The results of this further fuels the previous links to birth defects and mental disorders in babies exposed to anti-seizure medications like Depakote and in-utero. Another drug that is known to cause birth defects in babies born to women that take the drugs while pregnant is the anti-seizure medication Topamax. Topamax has been linked to serious side effects including birth defects in babies whose mothers take the drugs while pregnant. Children may be born with birth defects such as PPHN, spina bifida, neural tube defects, oral clefts and heart, lung and brain defects after exposure to Topamax in-utero.
If your baby was born with birth defects after in-utero exposure to Topamax, contact attorney 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 child’s injuries.