sampleThe Doyle Law Firm is reviewing and closely monitoring Topamax, a drug for the treatment of epilepsy, seizures, Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, and migraine headaches. Recent reports indicate that Topamax may cause birth defects when the drug is taken during pregnancy. Topamax is manufactured by global health care company Ortho-McNeil Neurologics, Inc.

Scientists Link Birth Defects to Topamax

Topamax, a drug prescribed to treat epilepsy as well as help prevent migraines, has been linked to severe birth defects including cleft lip and cleft palate. Topamax, also known by its generic name, topiramate, increases the rate of oral cleft birth defects from 0.07% to 1.4% - THAT'S 20 TIMES THE NORMAL RATE! On March 4, 2011, the Food and Drug Administration issued a warning to providers and patients of the higher incidence of birth defects.


The Topamax Lawyers at Doyle Law are now accepting clients with Topamax birth defect claims.

Baby born with a birth defect after your Topamax use during pregnancy? Call Doyle Law at (205) 533-9500. A birth defect Law Firm.

Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Birth Defects Prompt FDA Warning

Cleft lip and cleft palate are two kinds of birth defects known as “oral clefts.” Oral clefts occur when parts of the lip, and sometimes the roof of the mouth and bottom of the nose, do not fully meet during development in the uterus. As a result, children are born with a cleft, or gap, that can be as small as a notch on the lip, to a grooved space that extends from the lip, into the palate and nose. While the majority of cases are resolved with reconstructive surgery, some severe cases of cleft palate lead to problems with eating, talking, and ear infections. Normally, the upper lip and palate meet and fuse together during the first trimester of pregnancy, a time unfortunately when many women do not yet realize they are pregnant. As a result, some mothers are unable to prevent exposure to Topamax until later in their pregnancies, when the oral cleft birth defect has already formed.


The North American Antiepileptic Drug (AED) Pregnancy Registry recently released new data that prompted the FDA’s warning. Their statistic show that, while children born to mothers who do not have epilepsy and are not taking an anti-epileptic drug suffer oral clefts only 0.07% of the time, babies born to mothers taking Topamax experience cleft lip and cleft palate at a rate of 1.4%. Children whose mothers have epilepsy, and are taking a drug other than Topamax or containing topiramate, have an incidence of 0.38-0.55% of oral clefts.


The FDA cited statistics from the North American Antiepileptic Drug (AED) Pregnancy Registry in their warning. The data indicates an increased risk of oral clefts in babies exposed to Topamax (topiramate) during the first trimester of pregnancy. 1.4% of children whose mothers’ took Topamax suffered from oral clefts, compared with 0.38– 0.55% of children whose mothers’ took other anti-epileptic drugs. Only 0.07% of children whose mothers do not have epilepsy and are not taking anti-epileptic drugs suffer from left lips or cleft palates.

Dangers of Topamax

Although Topamax had shown significant promise in treating multiple disorders, before long complaints related to the use of Topamax began to surface. Some side effects can be expected from the use of powerful medications like Topamax; however, the issues cited by some Topamax users were far more serious than the mild side effects outlined in the drug’s labeling.


Most notably, women who used Depakote during pregnancy began to show extremely high rates of serious birth defects, like cleft lip and cleft palate in their children.

Contact Alabama Topamax Birth Defect Attorneys Doyle Law Firm - Birmingham, Alabama

Topamax Lawsuits and Legal Representation

The Topamax side effect lawyers at the Doyle Law Firm, PC have a proven track record of success in helping our clients obtain compensation for injuries resulting from the use of dangerous medications like Topamax.


Our experienced team of legal professionals and Topamax lawyers has been helping dangerous drug injury victims for years. We are dedicated to achieving real justice for the clients we serve can assure them that we will work diligently to achieve a satisfactory result.

Contact Alabama Topamax Injury Attorneys

If your baby was born with a birth defect after your Topamax use during pregnancy, you may have a defective product claim against Ortho-McNeil Neurologics, Inc. Call our Birmingham, Alabama, offices today for a free consultation. Our office number is 205.533.9500. Do not wait another day and risk losing your claim.


The attorneys at the Doyle Law Firm are now accepting Topamax clients and filing lawsuits nationwide. Due to your baby's injury, you may be able to recover damages (monetary compensation) for your pain, suffering, and medical treatment expenses. The Doyle Law Firm's experienced injury trial lawyers have extensive experience with product liability claims, specifically those involving defective and dangerous drugs.


Alabama has a two year statute of limitations on filing certain product liability and personal injury claims. It takes time to acquire medical records and draft pleadings, so please do not delay in contacting us if you have any concern that your baby's birth defect may have been caused by Topamax.