Study Links Seizure Drugs to Suicide Risk

Some epilepsy drugs may increase the risk of suicide, a new study finds. These drugs are called anticonvulsants. They help to prevent seizures. Some people also take them for bipolar disorder, mania, migraine and other conditions. The study looked at data on nearly 300,000 prescriptions for these drugs. In a 5 ½-year period, 26 people committed suicide. Another 801 attempted it and 41 died by violence. Suicide risk was higher for those who took certain drugs. They were gabapentin (Neurontin), lamotrigine (Lamictal), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), tiagabine (Gabitril) and valproate (Depacon). There was also a higher risk of suicide attempts. The risk with another anticonvulsant, topiramate (Topamax), was lower. U.S. labels for anticonvulsant drugs already carry a warning about suicide risk. The study appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association.