Study shows epilepsy drugs may have side effect that alters bone density

The question: Not only people with epilepsy but increasing numbers of people with compulsive behaviors such as overeating and smoking are being given drugs originally designed to combat seizures. Do women who take these drugs risk losing bone density?

This study measured the bone density of 9,704 white women 65 years of age and older. Some women were taking anti-epilepsy drugs — primarily phenytoin (Dilantin) but also carbamazepine, phenobarbital or primidone — but most were not. Density was measured at the heel and hip, which have different types of bones, with about six years between heel measurements and five years between hip measurements. Bone scans showed that women taking anti-epilepsy drugs lost bone density at nearly twice the rate of those not taking the drugs. Those who took the drugs regularly lost more density than those who took them sporadically.

Who may be affected by these findings? Older women who take anti-epilepsy drugs. Both osteoporosis and epilepsy become more common as people age.

Caveats: The findings may not apply to other racial groups. It is not clear whether the different anti-epilepsy drugs produce differing results.

Bottom line: Women taking anti-epilepsy drugs may want to ask their doctor about monitoring their bone density.

Find this study: June 1 issue of Neurology; abstract available online at www.neurology.org.

Learn more about bone density and osteoporosis at www.osteo.org. Learn more about epilepsy medications at www.epilepsyfoundation.org.