"This business about the drugs affecting personality is not all necessarily good," Carroll said.
In another study from the December issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, patients with bipolar disorder who were taking antiepileptic drugs did not have an increased risk of suicide.
Anti-seizure drugs -- including gabapentin, pregabalin, topiramate and carbamazepine -- are not only used to treat epilepsy, but nerve disorder and bipolar disorder, according to background information in study.
Last year, the FDA warned of increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior related to the use of anti-seizure drugs but voted not to require a black box warning label about suicide risk.
Researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago analyzed data on 47,918 patients with bipolar disorder, of which 13,385 patients received one of 11 anti-seizure drugs, while others received lithium or no treatment.
The rates of suicide among those taking anti-seizure drugs were no higher than for those taking lithium or those who received no treatment. And for patients taking anti-seizure drugs, suicide rates were five times higher before starting treatment than afterward.
The researchers said those with more severe illness may be more likely to be prescribed anti-seizure drugs or lithium.
More information
The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health has more on depression.
Copyright © 2011 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Reader Comments Read all comments (6)