Bloomberg News (8/5, Kay) reported, "Using epilepsy drugs doesn't increase the risk of suicidal actions among patients with the disorder, a study found, contradicting a safety warning issued by the US Food and Drug Administration." An observational study examined 10 UK-approved treatments and "compared the effects of the medicines in patients with epilepsy and those with mental-health conditions including depression, according to the report published today in the New England Journal of Medicine." The FDA in May 2009 "approved new warnings that suicidal behavior or thoughts were higher among patients who received antiepileptic drugs compared with those who had taken a placebo," but this study's lead author said, "Our results do not confirm the findings previously reported by the FDA." HealthDay (8/4, Behen) also covered the story.
