Topamax is a prescription drug originally approved by the FDA in 1996 to treat epilepsy.The generic name is topiramate. Topamax is manufactured by Ortho-McNeil Neurologics, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson.
The FDA approved Topamax for use to treat migraines in 2004 and it is often prescribed off-label for bi-polar disorder.
In March 2011 the FDA warned that an increased risk of cleft lip and/or cleft palate in newborns has been associated with use of Topamax by pregnant mothers. In fact, one study published in July of 2008 in the scientific journal Neurology cited an alarming rate of cleft lips and/or cleft palates in newborns associated with Topamax usage by pregnant women.
If you took Topamax during pregnancy and your child was born with a cleft lip or cleft palate you should talk with a lawyer about your situation.
