During pregnancy, you have to make sure of the effects that the medications could have on the health of the fetus and the mother, so we should not self-medicate. Now a study has shown that a common medication for the treatment of migraine increases the risk that pregnant mothers have children with a congenital defect.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said new data show that the drug called topiramate, sold generically or through the Johnson & Johnson's Topamax brand, can cause cleft lip or cleft palate in the baby
This drug is also used for epilepsy cases and the FDA issued the warning based on data extracted from the US Antiepileptic and Pregnancy Drug Registry.
Officials asked doctors to warn women of childbearing age about these risks that they are taking the medication and consider alternative medications that have a lower risk of birth defects.
The deformations mentioned occur when the mouth does not develop completely, generating a “split lip” or an opening in the palate, malformations that can cause multiple developmental problems because they make it almost impossible for babies to receive adequate nutrition.
According to data provided by the FDA to launch its alert, topiramate drugs increase the risk of these problems during the first trimester of pregnancy.
The prevalence of cleft lip in infants exposed to this substance is 1.4%, compared to 0.38% of children who had no exposure to it or 0.55% of those who were exposed to other antiepileptic drugs.
Definitely, Topiramaco taken during pregnancy has been linked to congenital baby defects, so if you are pregnant and suffer from migraines or epilepsy you have to make sure that it is not included among the medications you take. The warning in the leaflet and by the professionals is also necessary.
