At one time, Depakote was an extremely popular antidepressant and anti-seizure medication that was often prescribed for people who were unable to tolerate side effects caused by other similar drugs.
Although it has a long history of being a safe medication for the majority of people who use it, it has also been identified as a significant cause of birth defects.
What Is Depakote?
Depakote is traditionally a medication prescribed for people who suffer from seizures, though it has also been used as an antidepressant. It is commonly prescribed for people who suffer from bipolar disorder or manic depression, General anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and people who often suffer from migraine headaches.
Depakote is now available as a generic medication – divalproex sodium – and is sometimes used along with other antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs.
Most health care professionals will tell you that this medication should not be taken by pregnant women, but this has not always been the case and some pregnant women have taken this medication with perpetrating results.
What Is The Problem With This Drug?
For most people, there are no significant problems with taking this drug, though there are a number of very common Depakote side effects which are not terribly severe.
However, taking this drug while you are pregnant can cause birth defects and can be dangerous for a pregnant woman. Depakote also has the ability to be transferred through breast milk, so it should not be taken during pregnancy or while breast-feeding.
The most common side effects that are associated with Depakote include severe birth defects such as heart damage, brain damage, clubfoot, lung defects, spina bifida, and other significant and sometimes fatal health problems.
Depakote lawsuits are also filed as a result of pregnant women who have had seizures during pregnancy which caused some defects to the baby.
Can You File A Depakote Lawsuit?
If your child was born with a birth defect while you were taking Depakote either before or during pregnancy, then you may want to file a Depakote lawsuit.
The company that manufactures this medication was alerted by the FDA that it could be potentially dangerous for pregnant women and their unborn children since there is a direct correlation between use of this medication and certain birth defects.
Do You Need Your Own Attorney?
There are several different ways that you can file this kind of lawsuit, including going to your local attorney, joining a class-action lawsuit, or working with an attorney who specializes in medical injury lawsuits.
Because of the severity of the side effects that have been caused by its usage by pregnant women, this kind of lawsuit has the potential to result in very large rewards for claimants.
But, because you are going against a very large and powerful drug company, it is important that you have a reputable and experienced law firm working for you to ensure ethical and effective representation.
How Much Does It Cost To File A Depakote Lawsuit?
If you feel that you have suffered only minor complications as a result of taking Depakote, then you may believe that a Depakote lawsuit is simply not worth the time or effort.
However, even those individuals who have suffered minor complications have been able to obtain significant compensation by choosing the right kind of attorney for representation.
Filing an injury lawsuit with an attorney that does not have experience in this kind of claim can be expensive and may in fact reduce your chances of compensation.
Instead, you will certainly find that it is much easier to deal with an experienced law firm that has represented individuals who have sought compensation as a result of antidepressant usage.
What Kind Of Damages Are Possible?
The potential for damages will depend on the severity of the physical conditions that were caused by this drug. It may be necessary to show that there is a long-term financial cost as a result of these birth defects not only to the child but to the parents as well.
However, the company that manufactures Depakote has been reported to earmark $1.5 billion for such claims.
Where Can You Go For The Latest Depakote Information?
Consumer injury is a well-respected company that has been able to help a lot of people get in touch with the right kind of legal representation, particularly as it pertains to health effects from SSRI drug usage.
When you go to the official Consumer Injury website, by entering some basic information, you will be eligible for a free claim review.
There is no obligation whatsoever, and consumer injury will be able to put you in touch with one or more legal firms that are experienced in this kind of lawsuit.
It is always important to act as quickly as possible so that consumer injury will enable you to find the right representation for your Depakote lawsuit.