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Depakote Has Been Linked to Birth Defects

Depakote (generic: divalproex) is used to treat certain types of seizures and convulsions. It can be prescribed alone or with other epilepsy medications. Depakote is manufactured by Abbott Laboratories and gained FDA approval in 2000. On May 3, 2007, doctors reported that expectant mothers with epilepsy who took Depakote to control seizures were at increased risk of having a child with mental deficits.

Toddlers who had been exposed in the womb to Depakote, scored seven to eight points lower on I.Q. tests at age 2 than those whose mothers had been taking other epilepsy drugs while pregnant, the study discovered. They were twice as likely to score in the range associated with mental retardation, according to the authors, who presented the findings at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in Boston. The report is consistent with several new studies finding that Depakote is more likely than other so-called anticonvulsant drugs to increase the risk of mental deficits and other birth defects, like neural tube problems.

“Depakote looks worse than the other drugs in all of these recent studies,” said Dr. Kimford J. Meador, a professor of neurology at the University of Florida and the lead author of the new study. “In all, it is compelling evidence that this drug should not be used as a first-line choice for treatment in pregnant women.” The drug’s label currently states that Depakote “has been associated with birth defects in children of women who have taken it while pregnant.”

If you or a loved one took Depakote while pregnant and gave birth to a child with mental deficits, you may be entitled to compensation. Please fill out the form at the right for a free case evaluation by a qualified defective drugs attorney. Alternatively, call 1-800-LAW-INFO (1-800-529-4636).