[News] Epilepsy drugs increase risk of fractures and falls

[Endless]

Did you see this in the epilepsy news?

Epilepsy drugs increase risk of fractures and falls


Who knew anti-epileptic drugs affected bone health? I was aware that Topamax does, but didn't know about the others.

[Sonia.g]

i wasn't aware of this either, they should tell us before we start taking it so we know there is a chance of it

[CQ:)]

Did you see this in the epilepsy news?

Epilepsy drugs increase risk of fractures and falls


Who knew anti-epileptic drugs affected bone health? I was aware that Topamax does, but didn't know about the others.

I posted a similar post about this topic last week & the link was very interesting to read.
The research is being done here in Australia, I wonder if they've found which meds have this side effect.

[epileric]

I posted a similar post about this topic last week & it was very interesting to read.
The research is being done here in Australia, I wonder if they've mentioned which meds have this side effect.

I know Tegretol (Carbamazapine) is one of them.

[CQ:)]

I know Tegretol (Carbamazapine) is one of them.

Thanks Eric,
Tegretol is the anti-epileptic drug which I am slowly coming of at the moment. When I saw the Neurologist in March & we spoke about weening me of one of the meds he said Tegretol had a few long term side effects. He may have mentioned that Tegretol eventually affects your bones but I can't remember any of the long term side effects he mentioned & I never thought of writing the side effects down.

[jackier]

This news makes me have more faith in my new neurologist. I've been on Dilantin for over 41 years & Depakote for the last 3 yrs. He told me in my first visit that because of the Dilantin, I was prone to osteo. & he ordered a bone density test among a new EEG & blood work checking for Vitamin D. He also took me off Depakote & has me on Keppra. I'm having another MRI on the 23rd & then we'll discuss going off the Dilantin.

[little fruitcake]

Thanks guys for the info. It seems like it's always something.

[epileric]

Thanks Eric,
Tegretol is the anti-epileptic drug which I am slowly coming of at the moment.

You're lucky. I've been on it for a few decades & it is the only one that seems to have any effect on my seizures.

I found this re. osteoporosis & anti-epileptic drugs. It's about a year old so there may be others found to cause osteoporosis since.

It is not clear how long it will take to develop bone density problems in patients taking anti-epileptic drugs. Once a patient has been on an anti-epileptic drug for approximately 5 years, physicians may consider testing bone density. Certain anti-epileptic drugs have clear studies indicating an association with osteoporosis. These anti-epileptic drugs include phenytoin (= Dilantin), carbamazepine (=Tegretol, Carbatrol), valproic acid (= Depakote) and phenobarbital. The newer anti-epileptic drugs have not been as clearly shown to be associated with bone density loss, but fewer studies are available.

Bone Health and Epilepsy: Are your bones brittle?

[CQ:)]

You're lucky. I've been on it for a few decades & it is the only one that seems to have any effect on my seizures.

I've been on Tegretol for 10 years, its the 1st med the Neurologist tried put me on after I started taking the seizures again.

I found this re. osteoporosis & anti-epileptic drugs. It's about a year old so there may be others found to cause osteoporosis since.

Bone Health and Epilepsy: Are your bones brittle?

Thanks for the link Eric.
Out of the couple of meds that were mentioned I've only been on Tegretol.