California Depakote Side Effect Attorneys - Orange County Depakote Birth Injury Lawyers

Depakote, distributed by Abbott Laboratories, is a used to treat several types of neuropathy. It is marketed to treat manic episodes caused by bipolar disorder, but doctors also prescribe it for:

• Epilepsy
• Migraines
• Chronic pain associated with neuropathy

Unfortunately, Depakote causes serious birth injuries to children born to women who take the drug. The FDA has classified Depakote as a pregnancy category D, due to the fact that it causes serious and potentially fatal fetal side effects.

The most serious side effects associated with Depakote are:

• Spina bifida
• Intrauterine growth retardation
• Skeletal Defects
• Neural tube malformations
• Fetal Death

Other side effects include:

• Cleft Palate
• Hand structure deformations
• Hypospadias (a condition in male babies that results in the urethra opening to be in the wrong place) Pulmonary stenosis
• Hypoplastic right heart (a condition that results in an underdeveloped right side of the heart)
• Undescended testes

The drug also poses dangers to any child who is nursing, as the drug can pass through the breast milk.

It was discovered that 20.3 percent of women who took Depakote during pregnancy, gave birth to a child with some a type of severe birth defect. Woman who took higher doses of the drug were 24 percent more likely to experience fetal trauma. 9.1 percent of women who were under-dosed, gave birth to babies with defects.

If you or someone you love has taken Depakote, which resulted in a birth injury or defect, is encouraged to contact our firm right away. The experienced Orange County Depakote attorneys at Bisnar|Chase know what a difficult time it can be for any new parent, but especially a new parent who must care for a injured baby. Please contact us for your free, confidential consultation.

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BISNAR | CHASE 2006-2010 Super Lawyers names outstanding lawyers from more than 60 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. BISNAR | CHASE has received this award for five consecutive years. Brian Chase was named one of the 2010 Top 50 Orange County Lawyers.

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