(RALEIGH) -- Abbott Laboratories must pay North Carolina and 45 other states $100 million to resolve allegations that it improperly marketed the drug Depakote.  North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper and the other attorneys general allege that Abbott representatives engaged in unfair and deceptive practices by marketing Depakote for uses not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

“Marketing drugs for off-label uses is misleading and can be dangerous,” said Cooper. “Drug makers have a responsibility to make sure their drugs do what they say they do.”

Depakote is approved by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration to treat seizure disorders, mania associated with bipolar disorder and prophylaxis of migraines. One one the uses Cooper said Abbott marketed the drug for was to treat schizophrenia and agitation associated with dementia even though clinical studies showed the drug was not effective in treating these disorders.

North Carolina will receive $3.5 million from the settlement. In addition, the State Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees will get $390,531.51 and the state prison system will get $184,468.49 to reimburse them for drugs purchased.