DrugRisk Launches Topamax Center for Birth Defect Information
Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) December 06, 2013 -- The DrugRisk.com prescription drug safety center is announcing it has added information for women who have taken the anticonvulsant drug Topamax. The new resource center contains studies on birth defect side effects, safety alerts for patients, as well as legal news for any birth defect claims.
DrugRisk is a free resource site for those taking popular prescription drugs. By providing the latest medication recalls, safety alerts, research and litigation news, patients can avoid dangerous drugs, see if others are experiencing similar side effects and decide if they need legal advice.
Topamax is an antiepileptic drug manufactured by Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals. It is commonly prescribed for epilepsy, seizures, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, bipolar disorder, migraine headaches and weight gain.
However, DrugRisk has added warnings from health experts that Topamax may increase the risk of birth defects if taken during pregnancy.
The FDA has advised that women taking Topamax during pregnancy may have a higher risk of giving birth to infants with cleft lip and/or cleft palate*. Also, a study from the United Kingdom suggested the rate of oral cleft birth defects may be 11 times higher for children exposed to Topamax during pregnancy**.
More than 130 families have filed a Topamax lawsuit alleging birth defects from the drug so far in a special court. The formal case is known as In re Topamax Litigation, 110602131, Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.
Now, DrugRisk has learned that juries awarded one family $4 million*** and another $11 million**** in the first two trials in recent months over Topamax birth defects.
Anyone with a child affected by birth defects after taking Topamax is urged to visit DrugRisk.com or speak with a lawyer about their legal options. However, due to the specialized nature of these cases, DrugRisk only recommends lawyers who have already handled Topamax lawsuits.
Visit http://www.DrugRisk.com today for more information on the research, side effects and litigation news related to Topamax and other drugs, or to speak with a lawyer.
*FDA 3/4/11; http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm245085.htm
**Neurology, March 2008; neurology.org/content/71/4/272
***10/30/13, April Czimmer, et al. v. Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceutica, No. 1105-03459, Pa. Comm. Pls., Philadelphia Co.; lexisnexis.com/legalnewsroom/litigation/b/litigation-blog/archive/2013/10/31/4-million-awarded-in-1st-pa-trial-alleging-birth-defect-from-topamax-epilepsy-drug.aspx
****11/18/13, Gurley v. Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceutical, 110502251, Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-18/j-j-s-janssen-loses-11-million-jury-verdict-over-topamax.html
Chris Schroeder, DrugRisk, http://www.DrugRisk.com, +1 888-415-1859, [email protected]
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