Anticonvulsant Medications and the Risk of Suicide, Attempted Suicide, or Violent Death

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Abstract
Anticonvulsant medications are a heterogeneous pharmacologic class characterized by various chemical structures and postulated mechanisms of action. They represent the main therapeutic approach for patients with epilepsy, but labeled indications also include bipolar disorder, mania, neuralgia, migraine, and neuropathic pain.1-3 Their off-label use is rapidly increasing as well.4,5 The wide range of indications and common use of anticonvulsants in patients with or without psychiatric comorbidities make their safety an issue of great relevance.