The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on March 4, 2011 that Topamax (topiramate) and its generic forms heighten the danger of an infant suffering cleft lip and cleft palate if their mother took the drug while pregnant. Topamax is used to treat specific types of seizures in individuals with epilepsy and is also used to prevent migraine headaches. Women who are currently pregnant and are taking Topamax should not suddenly stop taking the drug without first speaking with their health care professional. Not treating epilepsy or suddenly stopping antiepileptic medication consumption could cause a mother and/or her baby to suffer serious health problems. Information provided by the North American Antiepileptic Drug (AED) Pregnancy Registry reveals the existence of a higher risk of oral clefts in babies exposed to Topamax in the first trimester of pregnancy. According to the data, a 1.4 percent occurrence of oral clefts was found in infants exposed to Topamax as a single therapy. T [...]
Read the Rest of "Topamax Oral Birth Defects Heightened Risk Emphasized by FDA"
