FDA warns of suicide risk for epilepsy/migraine drugs: EVERYBODY PANIC

News like this really boils the Bobblehead's blood:

FDA Alerts Health Care Providers to Risk of Suicidal Thoughts and Behavior with Antiepileptic Medications The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today issued new information to health care professionals to alert them about an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (suicidality) in patients who take drugs called antiepileptics to treat epilepsy, bipolar disorder, migraine headaches, and other conditions. [snip] Antiepileptic drugs in the analyses included the following: Carbamazepine (marketed as Carbatrol, Equetro, Tegretol, Tegretol XR) Felbamate (marketed as Felbatol) Gabapentin (marketed as Neurontin) Lamotrigine (marketed as Lamictal) Levetiracetam (marketed as Keppra) Oxcarbazepine (marketed as Trileptal) Pregabalin (marketed as Lyrica) Tiagabine (marketed as Gabitril) Topiramate (marketed as Topamax) Valproate (marketed as Depakote, Depakote ER, Depakene, Depacon) Zonisamide (marketed as Zonegran) Some of these drugs are also available in generic form.

Read the entire article here.

What I find amazing is that cause and effect of these studies are usually reversed and lawyer-driven. There is no mention that maybe people who suffer from epilepsy and migraines are more likely to be depressed because of their illness and therefore more likely to committ suicide as opposed to the standby, “It's gotta be the drugs.”

There was a similar study that stated women with breast implants were more likely to committ suicide. Honest, look here. Mention that many women who increase their breast size have lower self esteem and maybe are more likely to off themselves appears late in this Reuter's article (and was missing all together in many of the news sources I read when this appeared). Nope the message is pretty clear. Insert silicone, ride the train. Ding dongs.

As for the Bobblehead, Depakote ER has been wonderful. It keeps me less wobbly and heaven knows I am less moody as a whole than when full Bobblehead thrusters were engaged.

[posted by Bobblehead]