Suicide Risk Warning for Fibromyalgia Drug -- and anti-seizure drugs!!!

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Suicide Risk Warning for Fibromyalgia Drug

_http://chronicfatigue.about.com/b/2008/02/04/suicide-risk-warning-for-fibromy

algia-drug.htm_

(http://chronicfatigue.about.com/b/2008/02/04/suicide-risk-warning-for-fibromyal\

gia-drug.htm)

Monday February 4, 2008

 

_The U.S. Food and Drug Administration_

(http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01786.html) now warns that Lyrica,

which is the only drug approved for

_fibromyalgia_

(http://chronicfatigue.about.com/od/whatisfibromyalgia/a/what_is_fms.htm) , and

other anti-seizure drugs can double your risk of suicidal

thoughts and behaviors. This comes after the FDA analyzed studies of 11 drugs

in this category.

While not suggesting that you stop taking your medicine, the FDA wants

doctors to make sure you and your family know about the risk so everyone can be

on

guard for behavior changes. If you or someone you know is taking one of

these drugs, you should be familiar with the _warning signs_

(http://depression.about.com/od/suicideprevent/a/howhelpsuicidal_2.htm) and

_how to help a

suicidal person_

(http://depression.about.com/od/suicideprevent/a/howhelpsuicidal.htm) .

The studies were on the following drugs:

* _Lyrica (pregabalin)_ (http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/lyrica.htm)

 

* _Carbatrol, Equetro, Tegretol, Tegretol XR (carbamazepine)_

(http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/carbamazepine.htm)

* _Felbatol (felbamate)_

(http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/felbatol.htm)

* _Neurontin (gabapentin)_

(http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/neurontin.htm)

* _Lamictal (lamtrigine)_

(http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/lamictal.htm)

* _Keppra (levetiracetam)_

(http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/keppra.htm)

* _Trileptal (oxcarbazepine)_

(http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/trileptal.htm)

* _Gabitril (tiagabine)_

(http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/gabitril.htm)

* _Topamax (topiramate)_

(http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/topamax.htm)

* _Depakote, Depakote ER, Depakene, Depacon (valproate)_

(http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/valproate.htm)

* _Zonegran (zonisamide)_

(http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/zonegran.htm)

While other anti-seizure drugs weren't part of the analysis, the FDA expects

that all of the drugs in that class share the risk and likely will apply the

labeling changes to all of them.

Resources:

* _FDA Information for Healthcare Professionals_

(http://chronicfatigue.about.com/b/2008/02/04/www.fda.gov/cder/drug/InfoSheets/H\

CP/antiepilepticsHCP

..htm)

* Suicide Crisis Hotlines (US): 1-800-784-2433 or 1-800-273-8255

* _Warning Signs of Suicide_

(http://depression.about.com/od/suicideprevent/a/howhelpsuicidal_2.htm)

* _How to Help a Suicidal Person_

(http://depression.about.com/od/suicideprevent/a/howhelpsuicidal.htm)

* _About.com's Fibromyalgia & CFS Forum_

(http://chronicfatigue.about.com/mpboards.htm)