December 17, 2008

Suicide Warning Added To Epilepsy Drugs

FDA Adds Suicide Warning To Epilepsy Drugs

 

Drugs used by millions of patients to control epileptic seizures must carry warnings about heightened risks of suicide, federal regulators said Tuesday. The Food and Drug Administration announcement comes almost a year after the agency first said patients taking the drugs have a slightly higher risk for suicide than those taking dummy pills. According to the new language, only about 1 in 500 patients face an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior while taking the drugs. The new warning emphasizes that the risks are about the same among all antiseizure drugs.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20081216/D95424OG0.html