Epilepsy drugs - aed's-- that may increase falls

[linniec]

Examples of AEDS , listed by generic name, that can increase the risk of falling, or of a serious outcome if a fall occurs (1-7 are at the bottom and refer to possible mechanisms)
(See Possible Mechanisms1,2,5,6,7)

Generic List
Carbamazepine (See Possible Mechanisms 1,2,6)
Ethosuximide (See Possible Mechanisms 1,2,5)
Fosphenytoin (See Possible Mechanisms 1,2,5,7)
Gabapentin (See Possible Mechanisms 1,2,5,6)
Lamotrigine (See Possible Mechanisms 1,2,6)
Levetiracetam (See Possible Mechanisms 1,2,5)
Methsuximide (See Possible Mechanisms 1,2,5)
Oxcarbazepine (See Possible Mechanisms 1,2,5,6)
Phenobarbital (See Possible Mechanisms 1,2)
Phenytoin (See Possible Mechanisms 1,2,5,7)
Primidone (See Possible Mechanisms 1,2)
Topiramate (See Possible Mechanisms 1,2)
Valproic acid (See Possible Mechanisms 1,2,5)
Vigabatrin (See Possible Mechanisms 1,2)

BRAND NAME LIST
C
Cerebyx( Fosphenytoin) (See Possible Mechanisms 1,2,5,7)
Celontin (Methsuximide) (See Possible Mechanisms 1,2,5)
D
Depacon(Valproic acid) (See Possible Mechanisms 1,2,5)
Depakene(Valproic acid) (See Possible Mechanisms 1,2,5)
Depakote(Valproic acid) (See Possible Mechanisms 1,2,5)
Dilantin (Phenytoin) (See Possible Mechanisms 1,2,5,7)
E
Emeside (Ethosuximide )(See Possible Mechanisms 1,2,5)
K
Keppra (Levetiracetam) (See Possible Mechanisms 1,2,5)
L
Lamictal(Lamotrigine) (See Possible Mechanisms 1,2,6)
M
Mysoline (Primidone )(See Possible Mechanisms 1,2)
N
Neurontin (Gabapentin) (See Possible Mechanisms 1,2,5,6
P
Petinutin (Methsuximide) (See Possible Mechanisms 1,2,5)
Phenobarbital(Phenobarbital) (See Possible Mechanisms 1,2)
Prodilantin( Fosphenytoin) (See Possible Mechanisms 1,2,5,7)
S
Sabril (Vigabatrin) (See Possible Mechanisms 1,2)
T
Tegretol(Carbamazepine) (See Possible Mechanisms 1,2,6)
Topamax (Topiramate) (See Possible Mechanisms 1,2)
Trileptal (Oxcarbazepine) (See Possible Mechanisms 1,2,5,6)
V
Valproic (Valproic acid) (See Possible Mechanisms 1,2,5)
Z
Zarontin (Ethosuximide )(See Possible Mechanisms 1,2,5)

Possible mechanisms (often unclear): (1) Drowsiness; (2) Dizziness; (3) Hypotension; (4) Parkinsonian effects; (5) Ataxia/gait disturbance; (6) Vision disturbance; (7) Osteoporosis or reduced bone mineral density increases the fracture risk if a fall occurs; (8) Risk of serious bleeding if a fall occurs.
This list includes only those drugs for which there is evidence of increased risk of falls or their consequences. There may be other drugs that increase this risk in certain patients.
Barbara Cadario and BC Falls and Injury Prevention Coalition.
Drugs and the Risk of Falling: Guidance Document. Revised August 2011.

Linnie

[ReneF]

Thanks, Linnie!

[Porkette]

Hi Linnie,


Thanks for all the info. I was counting them up and over the yrs. I've tried 12 of the AED's that are on the list. What really increased my fall is when I was
given an antibiotic when I was taking tegretol or trileptal and I ended up like I was drunk because the antibiotic made the AED become toxic.
Here's wishing you well and May God Bless You!

Sue

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Linnie)))))) ~

Thank you for this information. My question: Are there any AEDs that aren't on this list?!

Love & Light,

Rose

[Geneo76]

Over the past 42 years I have taken 10 AEDs that are on the list. Depakote was a killer for me. Maybe it was the high dose, but I was to the point where I could not remember names of people that I would see on a regular basis. It didn't help the seizures either.
Gene

[Porkette]

Hi Rose,
The one AED that I don't think is on the list is Vimpat but I'm not sure of the chemical name for the drug so I could be wrong. Here's wishing you only the
best and May God Bless All of You!

Sue

[linniec]

Sue,

This study, done in 2011, included only those drugs which were implicated in other studies . However, bad news for Vimpat.
Vimpat's generic name is Lacosamide.
From an NIH site called Daily Meds , I got this
"The adverse events most commonly (>1% in the VIMPAT total group and greater than placebo) leading to discontinuation were dizziness, ataxia, vomiting, diplopia (double vision), nausea, vertigo, and vision blurred."
So, not many had dizziness, double vision, vertigo, and blurry vision, but certainly some did.


Linnie

[Porkette]

Hi Linnie,

Thanks for the info. I know that since I've been on vimpat the drug has decreased my absence sz. and stopped just about all of my cp sz. the biggest problem
I've had on this drug is a rapid heartbeat every now and then and I won't be doing anything but sitting in a chair relaxing when it happens but then after a few
seconds the rapid heartbeat stops and everything is fine.
Thanks again for the info. I wish you only the best and May God Bless You!

Sue