Antiepileptic-Class Drugs Increase Risk for Suicidality

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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."

FDA press release (Free)

New York Times story (One-time registration required)

Previous Physician's First Watch coverage of epilepsy and suicide (Free)

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