Depakote Lawsuit Information
Depakote lawsuits are now underway to compensate families for serious birth defects in children.
Mothers who use Depakote during pregnancy may give birth to children with impaired cognitive development or other congenital disorders.
In June 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration required an updated safety label for Depakote to warn mothers about the risk of impaired intelligence, reasoning, and problem solving in children.
The FDA had previously required the drug’s manufacturer to warn women about the risk of teratogenic effects in the embryo or fetus, including neural tube defects like spina bifida, craniofacial defects, and cardiovascular malformations.
Depakote lawsuits allege the manufacturer was already aware of the above risks, failed to adequately warn doctors and patients, and continued to market the drug. If you took Depakote during pregnancy and your child experienced birth defects, you may have grounds to file a Depakote lawsuit.
Depakote Settlement for Illegal Marketing
In addition to personal injury lawsuits over birth defects, the manufacturer of Depakote was subject to criminal proceedings for illegally marketing the drug. The U.S. Department of Justice charged that Abbott Laboratories illegally marketed Depakote for the treatment of schizophrenia and dementia even though the FDA only approved the drug to treat seizures, mania, and migraines. The federal government in conjunction with state authorities agreed to settle the Depakote lawsuit for a total amount of $1.6 billion in criminal and civil payments along with the manufacturer’s plea of guilty to a federal misdemeanor charge.
Recall Not Issued for Depakote
While lawsuits against Depakote are underway for victims of birth defects, please note that a Depakote recall has not been issued. This means the drug remains on the market and is still available for use by patients. Many users may benefit from treatment with Depakote or other valproate medications without experiencing significant side effects. In the absence of a Depakote recall, however, women of childbearing age are urged to consult their doctors and exercise a high degree of caution before beginning or continuing treatment.
Get a Depakote Lawsuit Evaluation
Our experienced drug injury attorneys can evaluate your potential Depakote lawsuit at no cost. Call (866) 808-2424 or send a message using our brief online form to speak with a lawyer about your case.