Epilepsy Drugs Linked to Suicidal Thoughts

Anti-seizure drugs for epileptic patients may induce suicidal thoughts in them, the US Food and Drug Administration warned recently.

The FDA found that drug-treated patients faced twice the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviour. Its conclusion was drawn from analysing almost 200 studies of 11 different anti-seizure drugs. The studies tracked almost 28,000 people given the medications and another 16,000 given dummy pills. Four people in the drug-treated group committed suicide. None in the placebo group did.

Besides epilepsy, anti-seizure drugs are used for migraines, certain nerve-pain disorders, and psychiatric diseases such as bipolar disorder that themselves carry a risk of suicide. The FDA found drug-treated patients were at increased risk no matter their diagnosis, but that the risk was highest for epilepsy sufferers.

Epileptics would also run the risk of seizures if they stopped their medication. The FDA suggested that they should consult a doctor before doing this. Doctors were advised to balance the risk with the patient's need for the drug, and let their patients and their families know about the risk, and watch out for depression symptoms or any changes in mood.