Lawsuits against Abbott Laboratories, the manufacturer of Depakote, have been increasing recently due to the high incidence of birth defects in children whose mother’s took Depakote while pregnant. Research into these serious adverse side effects have become more diligent and have yielded some interesting findings. Specifically, researchers discovered that using this medication during the first trimester of pregnancy significantly increased the risk of six different types of birth defects including spina bifida, cleft palate, and skeletal defects. Also, in a study of over 98,000 pregnancies, researchers found that the risk of children born with spina bifida, a serious spinal defect, increased by more than 12 times if mothers took Depakote.

Depakote is a pharmaceutical drug used to treat epilepsy by interacting with the chemicals in the body that are likely to cause them. It can also be used to treat migraines and certain types of manic episodes in people with bipolar disorder. It was approved by the FDA in 1983. It's long existence on the market and widespread use demonstrate the severity of this issue.

Due to the current research exposing the high risk of birth defects, women across America are filing suit against Abbott Laboratories, the manufacturer of Depakote. If you or someone you know had a child born with serious birth defects after using Depakote, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills or other damages. Contact the Depakote litigation attorneys at Arias, Ozzello & Gignac today to discuss your legal options. We will do everything we can to help you or your child.