Is anti-seizure medication safe?
As with many diseases, finding a drug that helps to best control seizures is a balancing act. At Florida Neuroscience Center, we work together with our patients to try the best drug and dosage based on individual needs. We are always interested in knowing of any symptom and side effect you may be experiencing, whether it is directly related to epilepsy or to medication-adverse effects. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently reviewed the safety of a number of epilepsy drugs. This was a result of a study that showed that the drugs increased patients’ risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior. While the FDA advisory panel voted unanimously that 11 antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) could cause suicidal thoughts and behavior, they recently voted NOT to place suicidal warnings on epilepsy drugs. Some of these drugs work very well in controlling seizures for our patients. While the risk of suicide is apparently small, studies suggest that as much as 30 to 50 percent of people experiencing unco
