Suicide Risks Increased by Epilepsy Drugs

A recent investigation has revealed that newer versions of epilepsy drugs tend to increase patients' risk of harming themselves, and of committing suicide. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is already requiring drug manufacturers to warn the public if their medication causes elevated risks of suicide, but the new study shows that only a few drugs cause this type of behavior. The paper appears in the July 27 issue of the esteemed medical journal Neurology. The magazine is published by the American Academy of Neurology, e! Science News reports.

“These results may be helpful for doctors and people with epilepsy as they decide which drugs to use. An earlier analysis of data by the FDA grouped all of the epilepsy drugs together and found an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior, but could not address the question of whether there were differences among the various classes of epilepsy drugs,” explains Frank Andersohn, MD, who is based in Berlin, Germany, at the Charite University Medical Center. He is also the author of the new journal entry.

Drugs such as lamotrigine, gabapentin, carbamazepine, valproate and phenytoin were found to have no negative effects of this nature. These are new drugs with a reduced risk of causing depression, and the list also includes common, conventional epilepsy drugs. On the other hand, chemical such as levetiracetam, topiramate and vigabatrin have been established to cause self-harm and suicidal tendencies. People taking medication containing drugs in the second list were at least 300 percent more likely to try and hurt themselves than epileptics using no medication whatsoever.

Andersohn says that epilepsy patients who are using levetiracetam, topiramate and/or vigabatrin should not discontinue their usage of the drug without consulting with their physician. He explains that effects vary, and that the drugs do not affect all users in the same way. The expert believes that epilepsy sufferers should consult with their doctor, who will then decide whether the drugs need to be replaced. Andersohn concludes by saying that the conclusions are only preliminary, and that larger investigations are needed to confirm the findings on a large scale.