DrugNews Adds 2014 Birth Defect Resource Site for Parents Taking Topamax
New York, NY (PRWEB) January 07, 2014 -- The prescription drug safety advocates at DrugNews.net have launched a 2014 Topamax Center for parents who took the antiepileptic drug while pregnant. The site has compiled research on the drug’s side effects, as well as safety alerts for patients, and legal news for claims alleging birth defects.
The Topamax-specific resource is the latest effort by DrugNews to keep those taking popular prescription medications informed. With the latest drug recalls, safety alerts, research and litigation news, patients can avoid dangers, see if others are experiencing similar side effects and decide if they need legal advice.
The antiepileptic drug Topamax is manufactured by Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Janssen. It is prescribed for epilepsy, seizures, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, bipolar disorder, migraine headaches and weight gain.
The new resource center has added warnings that Topamax may increase the risk of birth defects, including an FDA warning that infants born to women taking Topamax during pregnancy may have a higher risk of cleft lip and/or cleft palate*.
DrugNews’ Topamax Center also includes a study from the United Kingdom suggesting the rate of birth defects like cleft lip and cleft palate is 11 times that of normal for children exposed to Topamax during pregnancy**.
Over 130 families have already filed a Topamax lawsuit alleging birth defects from the drug in a special court. The formal case is known as In re Topamax Litigation, 110602131, Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.
The latest DrugNews legal reports show that a jury awarded one family $4 million*** and another $11 million**** in recent trials over Topamax birth defects.
Anyone with a child affected by birth defects after taking Topamax is urged to visit DrugNews.net or speak with a lawyer about their legal options.
Due to the specialized nature of drug injury cases, DrugNews only recommends lawyers who have already handled Topamax lawsuits.
Visit http://www.DrugNews.net 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, DrugNews, http://www.DrugNews.net, +1 888-987-4866, [email protected]
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