FDA Links Epilepsy Drugs To Suicide Risk

Still Very Rare, But Drugs Taken By Millions For Seizures, Other Issues, Can Double Risk

(AP)  Epilepsy drugs used by millions of people may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned in an alert to doctors Thursday.

The FDA analyzed almost 200 studies of 11 different anti-seizure drugs, some that have been on the market for decades. The studies tracked almost 28,000 people given the medications and another 16,000 given dummy pills.

Very rarely were suicidal thoughts or behavior reported. Still, the FDA found drug-treated patients did face about twice the risk: 0.43 percent of drug-treated patients experienced suicidal thoughts or behavior compared with 0.22 percent of placebo-takers.

Overall, four people in the drug-treated groups committed suicide, and none in the placebo groups.

What that means: For every 1,000 patients, about two more drug-treated patients experienced suicidal thoughts than placebo-takers, FDA concluded.

Anti-seizure drugs are used for a variety of illnesses in addition to epilepsy, including 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.

The FDA began investigating if epilepsy drugs pose any suicide risk in 2005. It analyzed data from 11 well-known anti-seizure drugs including Pfizer Inc.'s Neurontin, Novartis AG's Tegretol and Abbott Laboratories' Depakote - but the FDA said it expected that the risk applied to every epilepsy drug. The FDA said it would work with manufacturers to add the warning to product labels.

Skipping epilepsy medication can result in seizures. An FDA spokeswoman said only that patients should ask a doctor before making medication changes.

But the agency's letter to doctors advised them to:

Balance the risk with the patients' need for the drug.

Tell patients and their families about the risk so they can be aware of changes in mood.

Make sure patients and families know to contact a doctor if someone experiences common suicide warning signs, such as talking or thinking about hurting yourself, becoming preoccupied with death, withdrawal, becoming depressed or worsening depression, and giving away prized possessions.

© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Share:

Digg

Facebook

Yahoo! Buzz

Twitter

Mixx

More From Health

• Few in U.S. Make End-of-Life Wishes Known
• Scientists Hope to Re-Grow Human Breasts
• CDC Raises H1N1 Flu Death Toll to 4,000
• Ashton Answering Your Questions
• Where Germs Hide
• Chemical In Plastic Linked to Impotence
• CVS Settles Expired Product Lawsuit

• 

  VideoHope for Breast Cancer Survivors?

• 

  VideoWounded Soldier's New Chapter

Add a Comment

by February 2, 2008 1:27 PM EST

All drugs are toxins and laced with side effects and they are passed out like candy. Anyone who who will take anything from a physician without looking for natural alternatives deserves what they get. Medical school did not make doctors God. They are profiteers in collusion with Big Pharma. Big Pharma design the format that most Doctors follow. Do what best for Big Pharma not the patient. This is health care in America.

Reply to this comment

by victor924 February 1, 2008 7:56 PM EST

My DAUGHTER WAS ON DEPAKOTE FOR SEVERAL YEARS WHEN SHE WAS YOUNGER.SHE SUFFERED FROM PETIT-MAL EPILEPSY.SHE WAS SMART ENOUGH TO STOP TAKING THE MEDICATION.PATIENT DOES KNOW BEST.

Reply to this comment

by grammawhamma February 1, 2008 3:45 PM EST

"Skipping epilepsy medication can result in seizures. An FDA spokeswoman said only that patients should ask a doctor before making medication changes."

So what about the 16,000 people given "dummy" pills...didn''t this put them at an increased risk of having seizures during the study!?

Reply to this comment

by ServingSeeKINGfollower February 1, 2008 11:32 AM EST

sistersbrothersBrethren...myCreatorCHRISTJESUS+Tell us we must stay until the END...noSUICIDE!!! to follow we must deny ourselves, take up our cross DAILY, and followYOUmyCreatorCHRISTJESUS this involvesCrossExamination...who knows better what teaching must be presented to a ServingSeeKINGfollower than TheGodFamily??? accept that placed into one''s MortaLIFE, which is school, and be full of TheTHANK that another TimeFRAME has been GivenONE Job tells us we canNOTadd to that time given. SelAhMEN

Reply to this comment

by lillizzierae February 1, 2008 7:52 AM EST

They say "don''t believe everything you read" but honestly I do believe this. I''m currently on Tegretol for seizures (the drug they spoke of in the article) and Lamictal. Though I never became suicidal from any of the anti-seizures medications I were on but it''s without a doubt believable.

From what I know, and I definitely have researched all this, Tegretol and Lamictal and several other anti-seizure medications have been used to treat certain depressive disorders. I remember the controversy on Prozac; they were saying the drug was making users suicidal. I''ve always heard once you start an anti-depressant there is a slight chance of becoming suicidal, and correct me if I''m wrong but it''s not the drug its the chemicals in your brain "healing" and "getting better" which gives those the strength to following through in committing suicide. (That, in itself, is controversial.)

So in this case, being that these medications are used to treat depressive disorders, they change the chemicals in your brain so there''s definitely a chance for a suicidal side-effect.

I don''t blame the drugs.

Reply to this comment

Add a comment

Comment SUBMIT

Click here to add another comment.

The posting of advertisements, profanity, or personal attacks is prohibited. By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.

Comment reply

Submit Cancel

The posting of advertisements, profanity, or personal attacks is prohibited. By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.

Report offensive content:

If you believe this comment is offensive or violates the CBSNews.com Terms of Use, you can report it below (this will not automatically remove the comment). Once reported, our staff will be notified and the comment will be reviewed.

Select type of offense:

Offensive: Sexually explicit or offensive language

Spam: Advertisements, commercial links, or repetitive posts

Disruptive posting: Flaming or offending other users

Illegal activities: Promote cracked software, or other illegal content

Off-topic: Commentary unrelated to the storyline

Comments (optional):

Report Cancel

E-mail this comment to a friend.

E-mail this to: (Separate multiple e-mail addresses with commas. Limited to 10 addresses.)

Your e-mail address:

Send me a copy of this message

Note: Your e-mail address is used only to let the recipient know who sent the e-mail and in case of transmission error. Neither your address nor the recipients's address will be used for any other purpose.

Add your own personal message: (Optional)

Hi, I found this user's comment on CBSNews.com and thought you might be interested in reading it. Send e-mail Cancel

All drugs are toxins and laced with side effects and they are passed out like candy. Anyone who who will take anything from a physician without looking for natural alternatives deserves what they get. Medical school did not make doctors God. They are profiteers in collusion with Big Pharma. Big Pharma design the format that most Doctors follow. Do what best for Big Pharma not the patient. This is health care in America.

[victor924]

My DAUGHTER WAS ON DEPAKOTE FOR SEVERAL YEARS WHEN SHE WAS YOUNGER.SHE SUFFERED FROM PETIT-MAL EPILEPSY.SHE WAS SMART ENOUGH TO STOP TAKING THE MEDICATION.PATIENT DOES KNOW BEST.

[grammawhamma]

"Skipping epilepsy medication can result in seizures. An FDA spokeswoman said only that patients should ask a doctor before making medication changes."

So what about the 16,000 people given "dummy" pills...didn''t this put them at an increased risk of having seizures during the study!?

[ServingSeeKINGfollower]

sistersbrothersBrethren...myCreatorCHRISTJESUS+Tell us we must stay until the END...noSUICIDE!!! to follow we must deny ourselves, take up our cross DAILY, and followYOUmyCreatorCHRISTJESUS this involvesCrossExamination...who knows better what teaching must be presented to a ServingSeeKINGfollower than TheGodFamily??? accept that placed into one''s MortaLIFE, which is school, and be full of TheTHANK that another TimeFRAME has been GivenONE Job tells us we canNOTadd to that time given. SelAhMEN

[lillizzierae]

They say "don''t believe everything you read" but honestly I do believe this. I''m currently on Tegretol for seizures (the drug they spoke of in the article) and Lamictal. Though I never became suicidal from any of the anti-seizures medications I were on but it''s without a doubt believable.

From what I know, and I definitely have researched all this, Tegretol and Lamictal and several other anti-seizure medications have been used to treat certain depressive disorders. I remember the controversy on Prozac; they were saying the drug was making users suicidal. I''ve always heard once you start an anti-depressant there is a slight chance of becoming suicidal, and correct me if I''m wrong but it''s not the drug its the chemicals in your brain "healing" and "getting better" which gives those the strength to following through in committing suicide. (That, in itself, is controversial.)

So in this case, being that these medications are used to treat depressive disorders, they change the chemicals in your brain so there''s definitely a chance for a suicidal side-effect.

I don''t blame the drugs.