Topamax Cleft Lip
Cleft Lips From Topamax During Pregnancy
The FDA has required that makers of Topamax and the generic topiramate update their warning label about the risks of using the drug during pregnancy. Reportedly, women who took the epilepsy and migraine medication during pregnancy have an increased risk of delivering children with a birth defect. A cleft lip, which can have both cosmetic and functional effects, was one of the birth defects cited in the FDA’s safety announcement.
Did you take Topamax during pregnancy and deliver a child with a cleft palate? If so, complete our free case review form with details of your cleft palate claim to find out if you may be entitled to financial compensation.
Cleft Lip
A cleft lip occurs when the tissues of the upper jaw and nose do not fuse together as expected during the first trimester, causing a split or cleft in the lip. Typically, a cleft lip only involves one side of the upper lip and rarely occurs in the lower lip. While a cleft lip typically does not lead to other problems, some infants with this oral birth defect may have trouble feeding. When a child develops both a cleft palate and cleft lip, dental problems and speech difficulties may develop.
Treatment for Cleft Lips
To treat a cleft lip, surgery is required. The doctor will consult the child’s health, among other factors, in deciding when to perform the procedure. In most cases, Topamax cleft lips are operated on between three and six months after birth. The type of surgery used to correct a cleft lip will depend on the severity of the cleft lip, presence of any defects of the nose, and whether a cleft palate is also present.
As the child ages, additional surgeries may be required to help the child’s mouth adapt and to reduce the appearance of scarring. The number of surgeries required will depend on several factors, including whether the child exhibits any facial defects. For instance, if the infant’s nose is irregularly shaped, additional procedures may be required to correct the cleft lip for health or aesthetic reasons. Other treatments, which will be specific to the child’s problems, may also be required. These may include speech therapy.
Compensation for Cleft Lips
Cleft lip treatments, both surgical and non-surgical, can result in costly medical bills for the child’s parents. Those who suspect their infant’s cleft palate resulted from Topamax use may be able to recover the cost of these treatments. A lawsuit would allow parents the opportunity to obtain compensation for medical bills, specialized care and other losses resulting from their child’s cleft lip. To find out if you may be entitled to monetary damages, complete our no cost, no obligation case review form with details of your Topamax birth defect claim.