If you read the package insert of any drug (or read the Physician's Desk Reference / PDR) you might think all medicines are poison. Not so, but the list of all reported side effects is long and confusing. This Table is meant to simplify this task.
Common and/or important side effects (SE) will be listed. Remember, all antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) can cause side effects. Some do not depend on how long and how much you are taking, some do. Some side effects can only be determined with lab work (e.g. hyponatremia - low salt levels in the blood, from carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine). Some can not be determined by lab (e.g. decreased sex drive). People react differently. Blood levels are not a good measure of "too much". All AEDs (even gabapentin) can cause a rash.
Women have special issues regarding AEDs because of pregnancy, birth control pills, and breast feeding. Pregnancy should be planned.
Lastly, there is the economic aspect. Many AEDs are very expensive, and this can also have an adverse effect on the patient.
Finally, it would be remiss of me not to give some links.
The FDA Medical Products Reporting Program (free)
Clinical Pharmacology 2000 (free registration)
Physician's Desk Reference (free registration)
| BRAND | GENERIC | COMMON SE | WOMEN | COST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sleepy | ||||
| bromides | Acne | $ | ||
| ketogenic diet | Upset stomach | $$ | ||
| Sleepy | May affect unborn baby | |||
| phenobarbital | Rash | Affects birth control pills | ¢ | |
| Unsteady | Breast milk makes baby sleepy | |||
| Thick gums | ||||
| Facial hair | ||||
| Dilantin | phenytoin | Rash | Affects birth control pills | $ |
| Sleepy | May affect unborn baby | |||
| Unsteady | ||||
| Upset stomach | ||||
| Unsteady | Breast milk makes baby sleepy | |||
| Mysoline | primidone | Rash | Affects birth control pills | $ |
| Sleepy | May affect unborn baby | |||
| Upset stomach | ||||
| Confusion | ||||
| Celontin | methsuximide | Rash | Affects birth control pills | $ |
| Sleepy | May affect unborn baby | |||
| Unsteady | ||||
| Nausea | ||||
| Zarontin | ethosuximide | Rash | May affect unborn baby | $ |
| Sleepy | ||||
| Tegretol | Rash | Affects birth control pills | $$ | |
| Tegretol-XR | carbamazepine | Sleepy | May affect unborn baby | |
| Carbatrol | Unsteady | |||
| Klonopin | clonazepam | Sleepy | Do not become pregnant on this medicine | $ |
| Upset stomach | ||||
| Depakene | Weight gain | |||
| Depakote | valproic acid | Feet swell | Do not become pregnant on this medicine | $$ |
| Sprinkles | Hair loss | |||
| Bleeding | ||||
| Felbatol | felbamate | Fatal anemia | Not recommended if pregnant | $$ |
| Neurontin | gabapentin | Confusion | $$$ | |
| Rash | Lamictal | lamotrigine | Sleepy | Affects birth control pills | $$$$ |
| Unsteady | May affect unborn baby | |||
| Nausea | ||||
| Kidney stones | $$$$ | |||
| Weight loss | May affect unborn baby | |||
| Topamax | topiramate | Unsteady | Affects birth control pills | |
| Upset stomach | ||||
| Rash | ||||
| Gabitril | tiagabine | Sleepy | $$$ | |
| Rash | $$$$ | |||
| Trileptal | oxcarbazepine | Sleepy | Affects birth control pills | |
| Unsteady | ||||
| Nausea | ||||
| Rash | $$$$ | |||
| Zonegran | zonisamide | Kidney stones | May affect unborn baby | |
| Sleepy | ||||
| Nausea | ||||
| Rash | Affects birth control pills | $$$$ | ||
| Keppra | levetiracetam | Upset stomach | May affect unborn baby | |
| Unsteady |
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