Topamax defective drug lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson are moving forward in the court system. Topamax is used to treat migraine headaches and is an anticonvulsant medication used to treat persons with epilepsy.

Earlier this year, the FDA notified healthcare providers and patients of an increased risk of fetal deformity when pregnant women used Topamax. In March, the FDA recategorized Topamax from Category C to Category D, which means that there is positive evidence of human fetal risk (though the potential benefits to the pregnant woman may outweigh the risk for some patients in certain situations).

Birth defects that are suspected to have been caused by Topamax use have been reported on the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting database. Reported defects have included oral clefts (cleft palate, cleft lip), cranio-facial defects, limb malformation, spinal malformations and persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN), a life-threatening medical condition. While reported, not all of these defects have been proven to be associated with Topamax at this time.

Particularly problematic is the fact that Topamax appears to interfere with the effectiveness of birth control containing estrogen, thus increasing the risk of unintended pregnancy.

Defective drug cases are complex. Families that suspect that their child may have been harmed by a mother's use of Topamax during pregnancy should get experienced legal advice so they understand their options.

Source: FDA Website