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My Migraine Connection and The Daily Headache have both reported on a Food & Drug Administration (FDA) warning issued last week that indicates a connection between antiepileptic medications, such as those often prescribed for migraine prevention, and suicidal thoughts.
Teri and Kerrie did a great job covering this news, so rather than repeat everything they've said, I will share links to their posts and particularly relevant quotes from them.
Risk of Suicidal Thoughts Linked to Anticonvulsant Medications
The FDA has analyzed reports of suicidality (suicidal behavior or ideation) from 199 placebo-controlled clinical studies of 11 of these medications:The studies examined the effectiveness of the drugs in epilepsy, psychiatric disorders (e.g., bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety) and other conditions (e.g., migraine and neuropathic pain syndromes).
- Carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Equetro, Tegretol, Tegretol XR)
- Felbamate (Felbatol)
- Gabapentin (Neurontin)
- Lamotrigine (Lamictal)
- Levetiracetam (Keppra)
- Oxcarbazepine ( Trileptal)
- Pregabalin (Lyrica)
- Tiagabine (Gabitril)
- Topiramate (Topamax)
- Valproate (Depakote, Depakote ER, Depakene, Depacon)
- Zonisamide (Zonegran)
There was a statistically significant increased risk of suicidal behavior and suicidal ideation in the patients randomized to receive a neuronal stabilizing agent compared to patients who received a placebo. The estimated overall risk was about twice that of the placebo group.
Link Between Antiepileptic Drugs and Suicidal Thoughts or Behaviors Distilled
FDA's warning about suicidal thoughts and behaviors in people taking anti-seizure meds distilled: "For every 1,000 patients, about two more drug-treated patients experienced suicidal thoughts than placebo-takers, FDA concluded," according to New York Times article FDA Warns of Risks From Epilepsy Drugs.
I encourage you to discuss this information and any concerns you might have with your doctor. Please do not stop taking any medication without involving your doctor in that decision.
Technorati Tags: suicide, news, prevention, medication, depression, migraines, chronic illness, health, somebody heal me
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Content by Diana E. Lee.
2 comments:
I also post about this FDA warning. My concern is that the cause and effect aspect is not really discussed. Do the drugs raise the risk of suicide (from very small to still very small!) or are the people taking the drugs (i.e., migrainiers who are already at an increased risk of clinical depression) more likely to commit suicide.
I agree with everyone who has posted about this so far. DON'T PANIC! Keep taking your meds and talk to your doctor. As for the Bobblehead, I am much better ON my Depakote than on nothing.
Love the blog. Keep writing.
Bobblehead
Lyrica and Lexapro are a bad mix; I don't care what studies and which doctors claim that there is no interaction between the two.
Thanks for the news, Diana.
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