In December 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that medications used to treat epilepsy must carry label warnings indicating that they may increase the risk for suicidal thoughts and behavior (suicidality). In recent studies, approximately one in 500 patients taking these drugs experienced this higher risk. According to the FDA, patients who have epilepsy should read the patient information inserts provided with anticonvulsant medications carefully, should be monitored for changes in behavior, and should speak with a qualified physician about their epilepsy treatment.

Each anticonvulsant may have slightly different side effects. Common side effects of frequently prescribed AEDs such as Stavzor, Depakote, Neurontin and the big one — Topamax (topamirate) may include: dizziness, drowsiness, fatigue, nausea, and tremor. All side effects can be generally divided into two groups: normal side effect and long-term effects.

As for the first group, besides the conditions mentioned above, the possible side effects may include feeling dopey all of the time, having nightmares and having an increase in appetite. Many people also lose interest in sex. Your blood pressure may go down when on these, so guys — your body may not be able to pump enough blood to Mr. Happy in order to get or maintain an erection. Some people also lose their hair or get thinning hair.

What concerns long-term side effects they are a bit more serious. For some people, the loss of interest in sex winds up being a long-term side effect instead of a short-term side effect. For others, baldness or thinning hair as well as feeling sleepy all of the time.

Perhaps the most common long-term side effect is weight gain. You feel sleepy and your appetite increases, so weight gain is kind of inevitable. You need to be sure you are eating sensibly when on thiese kinds of medications.

But you may not be that hungry, because some anti-convulsants like depakote give chronic heartburn.

With some meds like depakote, one may need to take tests to be sure that the liver is functioning properly because the medicine could make your liver very cranky.

Tags: anticonvulsants, antiepileptic, antiseizure, drugs, neurontin.

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