17Jul/111
How safe is Topamax to take during pregnancy?
My husband and I are starting to think about kids after 2 years of marriage. We are starting to take the first steps in planning a family. I have taken Topamax for 3 years now to help control rare epileptic seizures, I've done some reading about Topamax and birth defects, but they chance seems low. Has anyone taken Topamax during pregnancy? ..and how was your outcome?
July 17th, 2011 - 13:26
There have been many FDA warnings released concerning Topamax use in pregnancy lately, including a change in pregnancy category to reflect the fact that its more dangerous than once thought. Topamax has been found to cause oral clefts (cleft lip and cleft palate) as well as something called hypospadias which is a genital defect when taken during pregnancy. The chances of these birth defects are low, but they are apparently prevalent enough to warrant lawsuits, which look like they are going on now.
In my opinion, why chance it? Taking folic acid before and during your pregnancy can greatly reduce the chances of any side effects, but talk to your doctor about safer alternatives to take while you are pregnant or not taking an antiepileptic at all for a period of time if there is no real danger to your health or the baby’s health. I found this website to be extremely helpful concerning <a href="http://www.topamaxbirthinjury.com">topamax risks during pregnancy</a>..