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LAWSUITS NEWS & LEGAL INFORMATION

Abbott Settles Depakote Lawsuits for $1.6 Billion

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Washington, DCAbbott Laboratories has agreed to settle a Depakote lawsuit alleging the company illegally marketed its drug for off-label use. The Depakote settlement will see Abbott pay approximately $1.6 billion, including a $500 million criminal fine, according to The Washington Post (5/7/12).

An investigation into Abbott's marketing of Depakote began four years ago, when the company was accused of marketing the drug to doctors for the treatment of schizophrenia and dementia. Depakote is approved by the FDA to treat epilepsy, migraines and manic episodes associated with bipolar disorder. It is not illegal for doctors to prescribe medications off-label, but it is illegal for drug companies to market the drugs for off-label use.

According to an article at Reuters (5/9/12), Abbott reportedly trained salespeople to market Depakote as a way to calm elderly patients with dementia. Furthermore, Abbott reportedly gave doctors illegal kickbacks for prescribing the medication.

As part of the settlement, Abbott will plead guilty to violating a federal drug law. Patients who were affected by the illegal marketing of Depakote are not part of this settlement. The $1.6 billion settlement is reportedly the second largest settlement involving illegal drug marketing. In 2009, Pfizer paid $2.3 million to settle allegations about the marketing of Bextra.

The Washington Post (5/7/12) notes that in 1999, Abbott had to stop clinical testing of Depakote on elderly patients with dementia when studies showed that such use of the drug was linked to an increased risk of drowsiness, dehydration and anorexia in elderly patients. Despite discontinuing the study, Abbott's sales team continued to market the drug for such use until 2006.

A whistleblower—one of four whose complaints about Abbott started the investigation—further alleged Abbott's sales force was told to market Depakote as a way for nursing homes to make up for inadequate staffing. The whistleblowers will now split $84 million of the settlement.

Meanwhile, concerns have been raised that Depakote is linked to a variety of birth defects, including spina bifida, hypospadias and oral clefts. According to Courthouse News Service (4/19/12), Keona Clay filed a lawsuit alleging her son was born with a penile birth defect because she took Depakote while pregnant. The lawsuit alleges that Depakote was defectively designed and inadequately tested. Finally, it alleges that the drug's warnings were not adequate.

READ ABOUT DEPAKOTE BIRTH DEFECT LAWSUITS

Depakote Birth Defect Legal Help

If you or a loved one have suffered losses in this case, please click the link below and your complaint will be sent to a drugs & medical lawyer who may evaluate your Depakote Birth Defect claim at no cost or obligation.

READER COMMENTS

Posted by

on
My elderly mom who has never ever been bipolar or diagnosed with epilepsy was thrown in an assisted living by my sister and put on depakote. it has over 150 side effects including dementia, memory loss, confusion and a host of other evils. it's a sin family members can throw their parents into homes and then drug them up. My brother n law who was diagnosed years ago and has been on heavy duty drugs said this is the worst drug. they tried to put him on it and after a week he made them take him off it. Yet another drug for big pharma to make billions. This is criminal.

Posted by

on
My son is 39yrs old and has been diagnosed with cirosis. He also has an extremely swollen hard tender stomach. He was hospitalized for severe bleeding internally 2 months ago. The drs. said "liver disease". He drinks occassionally. I think he has pancreatitis, and has a complete set of rotten teeth.I am so worried about him. I lost a son last year, due to misperscibed meds. I am goibg to sue I'm ready! For a young man deteriorating away caused by this awful drug! It makes me sick!!!

Posted by

on
I have been on Depakote for epilepsy over 25 years. I have had the major side effects associated with this medicine. weight gain, hair loss, and major dental problems. I had major dental work done on almost every tooth only to have every root canal, crown and cap eventually fail. I just had all my top teeth pulled out at age 45 after spending tens of thousands of dollars on dental work. I spent over $12k on dental work to date this year, out of pocket and the work is not complete. The effects that this medicine has had on my oral health and other bone issues was not something i was prepared to handle mentally or financially. I would like to know what the makers of Depakote have been sued for before and which cases have been successful.

Posted by

on
I was on that depakote for over 10 years. My little boy has all time of problems from heart to learning problems. He has IQ of 1year old at age 7 but we have a lawyer for that. I stop the med when I found out I was carry him. My ? Is I am started to loose teeth and some of my jaw bone was taken out plus I am loosing my hair really bad should I talk to my lawyer about that

Posted by

on
i was given Depakote at a young age for epilepsy as a adult now I am 29 I have asthma super ventricular tackycardia and I still have seizures do I qualify for part of this settlement

Posted by

on
We need an attorney who is suing the makers of Depakote for causing pancreatitis, even quite a bit of time after the taking of the Depakote. I read that it is common for takers of Depakote to suffer from pancreatitis, even much later, after taking it. He is a disabled veteran, and I am disabled...and we don't feel we should have had to go through the cancer scare we went through (thank God he doesn't have it). Please look us up...we're in the phone book in Nebraska...and let us know if we can be part of a class action law suit.

Posted by

on
Straight fact here: read the three black label warning on Depakote from FDA. Black label is the highest warning to the consumer that FDA can issue.
Please refer to the following link:
https://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/articles/depakote/depakote-lawsuit-side-effects-5-17704.html

This medication was recommended by a neurologist at CHOC (Children's Hospital Orange County), which is their favored medication to give to most of their seizure disorder patients, but this medication is not recommended by many well-known neurologist due to it's serious side effects of birth defects, damage to liver and causing serious and deadly damage to pancreas. Long story short, my daughter (8 years old) was forced by the doctor at CHOC after they enlisted SSA or CPS, Social Service worker, with a warrant, for six days. But this medication was tapered off and deemed as ineffective for my daughter when we transferred my daughter to UCLA. She suffered lose of hair and darkened urine for few days with increased seizures in frequency and duration of the seizures.
Always get a second opinion from different doctor if your doctor prescribe this medication to you or your child.

Posted by

on
my finance took a total of 4 depakote injections she was under the belief they were for female female problems to regulate here menstrual cycle they were administered by her obgyn for three years been off of them 2 years here last period every 3 months she has breakthrough bleeding bleeding was about 1 year 3 months ago is suffering from side effects blurred vision wait loss and 15 more she had nero intrigine tumor witch tested positive removed feb. i look forward to your response god bless you

Posted by

on
My doctor put me on depakote and ages days later I was sick throwing up diareia my gallbladder had to be removed my teeth are all going to have to be pulled......and I have no money to take care of all these bills.i want to know what's can be done for my sufferings

Posted by

on
When. I take this kind of medication of 750 mg twice daily. Caused me gain weight forever, swelling legs , angles, and feet then walk slow.

Therefore, I DECIDE to lawsuit this kind of medication

Posted by

on
My daughter was put on Depakote for seizures and bipolar. She was on the medication from the time she was six. She took it for 10 years. Her teeth are all broken and rotted. She is having back and leg problems. She did not have weight gain, but she was on adhd medication at the time. Her teeth all need to be pulled when I can figure out how to find the money for it. She has suffered from bad migraines for years. She has a learning disorder that didn't show up until after taking the medication, but I don't know for sure if that is associated with the Depakote. She was a very, very smart little girl and now she is 24 years old with horrible teeth and is mentally about 13. I feel very sorry for her and anyone who has taken this medication. She still suffered seizures while taking the Depakote, so I don't think it even worked. So she should never have had to go through what she is going through now!!!

Posted by

on
I was given a high dose of spoke and they never did blood work I went into renal failure had to have dialysis and was in ICU 9 days and I broke my foot and 4 toes why I was on it because I wasn't remembering things and it was my body shutting down. My ammonia level got up to 320

Posted by

on
I am 30 yrs old I had been prescribed Depekote for many years and I had beautiful teeth prior to this medication, I asked my doctors as I started to have sever bone loss leading to thousands in dental work and was left without teeth by the age of 24 I was unable to eat most things because of this and like I said it destroyed my teeth I lost bone leading to me losing two shoe sizes and much more Heath issues like liver problems and such. Very sad that anyone would have to deal with this especially at such a young age. I need help and hope to get resolution it won't reverse the damage or bring back my whole mouth of pretty teeth but something needs to be done. :,(

Posted by

on
I have been taken deprakote and have been having side effects. Need help from lawyer. Please contact me

Posted by

on
Took this poison for 3 months. Now I have pancreatic cancer. I don't drink or smoke. This drug is rat poison.

Posted by

on
I was given depakote for severe migraines. One didn't work so the doctor told me to take two, then three, then four up to 6 a day which caused my son fatt y liver disease which when my son went to donate blood for his 2 year old cousin said he is not able to give blood or could cause death to someone and if he ever needs blood has a 25 percent chance of dying. We just found this out and was never told this is a life time disease due to his then neurologist pediatrician continued to increase his dose of depakote. He can not get health insurance due to this. He is a volunteer firefighter which puts him at a higher risk. He is only 19 yr old. Please help. He was given these high doses of depakote maybe 7 or 8 years old with no notification this is a life time irreversible disease. I do have drs. Name that ha s risked his life by given him such high doses of this drug. We found this fatty liver disease from his then pediatric Ian as the Dr that admiSTREET THIS MEDICATION NEVERY CHECKED HIS LIVER. PLEASE HELP.

Posted by

on
I was prescribed Depakote to control my severe headaches. My doctor started me out with a large dose via IV, rapid infusion at their office. This was followed up by 6 years of 1500mg daily.

This did not help my headaches. My headaches have worsened to the point that I am now on disability and take daily pain meds. I have developed thyroid problems, depression, severe ringing in my ears and other issues since taking Depakote

I would be interested in talking with a lawyer that may see a case here

Posted by

on
I have been on Depakote for 6 years for Epylepsy and a seizure disorder. I now have lost most of my teeth due to bone loss, which I spent thousands on implants and bridgework which was all removed. My dentures do not fit right because I am still loosing bone in my jaws. My hips are giving out. I am 57 and enjoyed hiking but now I hurt in my hips and knees I am limited on my hiking. Look at all the side effects and withdrawl symtoms and that will scare the hell out of you. I have a constant ringing in my ears, weight loss. no sense of taste, confusion, agitation, insomnia, the list goes on and on. If my Doctor or my drug store would have told me what this drug would do to my body I would have never taken it. It has ruined my life and health even worse than any of my seizures ever did. I think we who have had our lives ruined by this drug should be compensated for all the money we spent and the severe pain and suffering we have been through. I am sure that will never happen since big drug companies always seem to do what they want to make money for them and their shareholders. Don't let your Doctor put you on this drug there are other anti-seizure drugs out there. Welcome to the US healthcare system.

Posted by

on
I had the prettiest teeth til i took depakote.i paid thousands on braces dentists visits and now because of depakote i rotten and my teeth are falling out.i have to get fake teeth all because i was on depakote.

Posted by

on
I have been taking deakote since I was 6 years old I was taking the liquid version of it up until 1989 then I was switched to the pills I was diagnosed with enumoina in 91 and because my levels were so high they thought I had child hood cancer but I did I was told that I would never have children and in 1995 I found out I was pregnant it was in December so in January I went to my neurologist and he seen me in on March 31, 1996 my Daughter was born she was born with club foot which is one of the side effects of the depakote she also was diagnosed with autism and depression and other leaning problem she is a very brave young woman and she is the reason what I wake up every morning

Posted by

on
As a child as young as 6, (when I was 1st perscribed Depakote) (which is absolutely insane to do to child that young) my mother had me diagnosed with Epilepsy, BP by at 12 & TS. I was pretty much robbed of my entire childhood, spending it in doc offices with my mom trying to "fix me" I gained over 130 extra body weight, from these meds at 5 feet tall even, I got up to 230+ pounds-which is basically size 26 in a wayne bryant store- from Zyrpexa, & Depakote. I was then put me on another several harmful med to lose the weight. It was just crazy! My mom very often left me in the waiting room and come out with a prescription, and talk to the doc alone. I was on these medications all my life(about a 20 year+ span) until about 4 years ago when I left the state to put myself thru college. Long story short, I actually never even had any of the illnesses I was being treated for all those years-They were never even necessary & caused a multitude of permanent un-reversable injuries and problems for me. Its not right that any of this happened to me. Especially as a minor with no control or no say over anything. I want to do something about this, If there is any lawyer who will contact me I am sincerely wanting to file a lawsuit in this matter.

Posted by

on
I was prescribed Depakote at age 7 for bipolar. (who diagnosis a child that young anywho?!) Not long after I began the medication the dental problems began. No matter how much I brushed my teeth or how frequently I visited the dentist my teeth continued to get worse. Now here I sit, a 25 year old woman, with no teeth. At all. I had to have them all removed due to complications from massive infection residing in my jaw all brought on by extreme tooth decay. I have no insurance due to the difficulty in getting a decent job (people assume its meth mouth). I lost my sense of fast the fall of 2010 while attending my final semester of culinary school. I did not graduate. My entire life has been dominated by the effects of this medication. The pain it brought put thoughts in my head I wish I never had. I just want to be healthy. Yet my body is still being ravaged by the infection. I cannot wear dentures thanks to the plastic surgery to repair both jaws. And I cannot afford implants. My point is, this is a terrible, terrible medication that needs to be pulled. It's cons far outweigh the pros.

Posted by

on
I was on Depakote for Bi polar disorder and it has caused chronic pain in my hips knees and ankles causing me to walk with a limp I am seeking information on my legal rights of what i can do about seeking a suit against the makers of Depakote thanks

Posted by

on
Reg-Abbott labs off-label promotion of Depakote.
I took Depakote for 6 years was ineffective for my condition PTSD,the doctor kept telling me to take it.
The saga of the schizophrenia drugs is one of incredible profit.Eli Lilly made $65 BILLION on Zyprexa franchise. Described as *the most successful drug in the history of neuroscience*.There is a whole underclass block of our society,including children in foster care that are the market for these drugs,but have little voice of protest if harmed by them.
--Daniel Haszard
*tell the truth don't be afraid*

Posted by

on
this drug really got to me.made sme sick

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