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."

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