PSA - warning on suicidal thoughts from epilepsy drugs

[drcuriosity]

wolfwitch came across this article entitled "FDA Orders a Warning for Antiepileptic Drugs About Increased Risk of Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors".

Looking through the list I can see at least a couple of drugs that I know friends of mine are prescribed (Klonopin and Topamax, for starters), so if you're on such medications it might pay to check it out - especially if you're already prone to mood-related issues.

Comments

[happyevilslosh.livejournal.com]

Nonetheless some error bounds would have been nice. :) I'm sure we all remember the results of the first second hand smoke study...

[drcuriosity]

Actually, no. It's unfamiliar to me.

[happyevilslosh.livejournal.com]

Oh OK. Well until like 2 years ago there was one essentially one paper that the harm of second hand smoke was based one (I can try hunt down the name if you want). The problem was in terms of the number of people involved the chances of dying without being exposed to second hand smoke was 1 in 100,000, whereas if you were exposed it was 1 in 80,000. Now that wasn't a great problem in the sense that I believe most early comments on the paper noted that the difference wasn't statistically significant - it should at best be a ground for more extensive studies - however people (most notably the media) were running around claiming to governments et al. that your chances of dying increased 25% when exposed to second hand smoke.