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Antiepileptic-Class Drugs Increase Risk for Suicidality
Patients who take antiepileptics have double the risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors (suicidality), the FDA warned on Thursday.
The agency reviewed 199 placebo-controlled studies of 11 antiepileptic drugs and found that patients taking these medications had a 0.43% risk for suicidality, as compared with those taking placebo, who had a 0.22% risk.
The agency's analysis included the following drugs:
- carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Equetro, Tegretol)
- felbamate (Felbatol)
- gabapentin (Neurontin)
- lamotrigine (Lamictal)
- levetiracetam (Keppra)
- oxcarbazepine (Trileptal)
- pregabalin (Lyrica)
- tiagabine (Gabitril)
- topiramate (Topamax)
- valproate (Depakote, Depakene, Depacon)
- zonisamide (Zonegran)
The agency says that all medications in the antiepileptic class pose an increased risk for suicidality. The agency advises: "Health care providers should notify patients, their families, and caregivers ... so that patients may be closely observed for notable changes in behavior."
LINK(S):
FDA press release (Free)
New York Times story (One-time registration required)
Previous Physician's First Watch coverage of epilepsy and suicide (Free)
Published in Physician's First Watch February 1, 2008
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