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Yeah, saw that today in one of the other news sources.... either the LA Times or CNN online, can't recall which (it's the Topamax.....).

Makes you wonder what else they don't know about this stuff!

I knew this to be true of all other epilepsy meds and just assumed it to be true with this one as well.  Doesn't surprise me.  Good catch though and thanks for posting it.

Topiramate Linked to Birth Defects, but Results Should Be Interpreted With Caution


Caroline Cassels


July 23, 2008 — Preliminary results from a new study suggest taking the antiepileptic drug (AED) topiramate (Topamax, Ortho-McNeil Neurologics) during pregnancy, either alone or in combination with other AEDs, has been linked to an increased risk for congenital malformations.

Investigators found that topiramate, also used to prevent migraine, was linked to an overall rate of cleft lips or cleft palates that was 11 times higher than that of the general population. Of 78 live male births, hypospadias occurred in 4 of these infants, 2 of which were considered major congenital malformations (MCMs). This rate is 14 times higher than that seen in the general population.

HOWEVER, THE INVESTIGATORS AND OTHER EXPERTS SAY THE FINDINGS SHOULD BE INTERPRETED WITH CAUTION, OWING TO THE SMALL NUMBER OF STUDY SUBJECTS AND WIDE CONFIDENCE INTERVALS.

"More research needs to be done to confirm these results, especially since it was a small study. But these results should get the attention of women with migraine and their doctors, since topiramate is also used for preventing migraine, which is an even more common condition that frequently occurs in women of childbearing age," principal investigator John Craig, MRCP, from the Royal Group of Hospitals, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, said in a statement from the American Academy of Neurology.

The study is published in the July 22 issue of Neurology.

Another issue with using Topomax is that you can't get insurance, so fair warning if you work for yourself or change jobs.  The minute the insurance carrier sees "anti seisure meds"  (they consider topomax expermental as well), you can and probably will be denied coverage.

Balanchine wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2008 at 1:15am:

Makes you wonder what else they don't know about this stuff!

oh i'm sure they know alot more than what their willing to tell us. >:(

I was planning on sticking with four legged babies anyways.