Common Anticonvulsants May Raise Epileptics' Cardio Risk

Two widely prescribed anticonvulsants appear to increase cardiovascular risk in epileptics, researchers here found.

Patients who were switched from phenytoin or carbamazepine to newer medications had significant drops in cholesterol, C-reactive protein, and other markers of cardiovascular disease risk, Scott Mintzer, M.D., of Thomas Jefferson University here, and colleagues reported online in Annals of Neurology.

The researchers said it was unlikely the improvements resulted from treatment with the newer drugs.

"It's a consequence of being taken off the older ones, which were causing the cholesterol and other markers to be elevated in the first place," Dr. Mintzer said.

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Carbamazepine Gets Warning on Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis

Carbamazepine, a drug used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder, will now come with new warnings that Asian patients should undergo genetic testing before using the drug. According to the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), a human leukocyte antigen called HLA-B*1502 that is exclusive to people with Asian ancestry makes it more likely that carbamazepine will cause the serious skin disorders Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis.

Carbamazepine is an anticonvulsant and mood stabilizing drug, used primarily in the treatment of epilepsy and bipolar disorder. It is also used to treat other disorders, including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and schizophrenia. It is sold under the brand names Carbatrol, Equetro and Tegretol.

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