Provigil and Nuvigil
Provigil and Nuvigil Birth Defect Lawyers
Provigil and Nuvigil, medications prescribed to people with narcolepsy, sleep apnea, and other sleep disorders, have been linked to an increased risk of birth defects when taken by pregnant mothers.
If your child was born with a birth defect, and you’ve taken Provigil or Nuvigil, you should explore your legal options. At Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers, we want to help you hold negligent drug manufacturers responsible when their products cause more harm than good.
Potential Side Effects of Provigil and Nuvigil
Provigil (modafinil) and Nuvigil (armodafinil) have been marketed by manufacturers as an effective way to treat excessive daytime sleepiness, but now some users have reported that their children have been born with birth defects after taking the medication.
The Food and Drug Administration established a pregnancy registry to keep track of reports from women experiencing side effects after taking Nuvigil. Other countries have been more proactive, warning users of the potential side effects of these medications.
Birth defects linked to Provigil and Nuvigil may include:
- Cleft palates – A cleft palate is a split in the roof of the mouth. This birth defect occurs when the lips or mouth don’t properly form during pregnancy.
- Microcephaly – This birth defect occurs when a baby’s head is abnormally small. In some cases, babies with this condition will also have smaller, underdeveloped brains.
- Hypospadias – Hypospadias occurs when a newborn boy’s urethra is not located at the tip of the penis.
- Congenital heart defects – Congenital heart defects could include any number of conditions, such as an atrial septal defect, atrioventricular septal defect, Ebstein anomaly, and a single ventricle.
- Intrauterine growth restriction – A growth restriction birth defect occurs when a fetus doesn’t grow at a normal rate, which can present several health risks before, during, or after birth.
- Death – Several birth defects potentially caused by Provigil and Nuvigil may result in the death of the infant.
Did Your Child Suffer Birth Defects After You Took Provigil or Nuvigil?
If you took Provigil or Nuvigil while pregnant and your child was born with birth defects, you should know that our attorneys are accepting inquiries on potential lawsuits against the manufacturers of these medications.
Drug manufacturers have a responsibility to provide safe products. If medications pose a threat to any type of user, the products should be labeled to reflect that, and users should be made aware of all risks. When manufacturers don’t take care to warn consumers of their products’ risks, they can be held responsible for the harm caused as a result.
The Long-Term Consequences of Birth Defects
Birth defects can affect children in irreparable ways. A child’s mental or physical development could be stunted, presenting challenges that a child might never overcome.
A child and his or her family might have difficulties getting adequate treatment because they can’t afford it. They might need ongoing care for the child. Parents might also find it difficult to maintain a full-time job because of their child’s needs, which makes it even harder to meet all the expenses associated with caring for a child with a birth defect.
When these defects stem from a medication that was marketed as safe, those parents have every right to pursue compensation for the costs they face and likely will continue to face as a result.
Contact Dudley DeBosier to Explore Your Legal Options
If you or someone you love took Provigil or Nuvigil and had a child who suffered birth defects, contact the defective drug lawyers at Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers to speak to our lawyers at no cost. We want to help you understand your legal options when a defective drug harms your family, especially the most vulnerable members.
Provigil® and Nuvigil® are registered trademarks of Teva Pharmaceuticals USA and are used here only to identify the product in question.
This law firm is not associated with, sponsored by, or affiliated with Teva Pharmaceuticals USA or the Food and Drug Administration.
Do not stop taking a prescription medication without first consulting with your doctor. Discontinuing a prescribed medication without your doctor’s advice can result in injury or death.
