Weight change associated with antiepileptic drugs

J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2013 Jul;84(7):796-9. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2012-303688. Epub 2012 Dec 12.

Abstract

Aim: To investigate antiepileptic drug (AED)-related weight changes in patients with epilepsy through a retrospective observational study.

Method: We analysed the anonymised electronic primary care records of 1.1 million adult patients in Wales. We included patients aged 18 years and over with a diagnosis of epilepsy, whose body weight had been measured up to 12 months before starting, and between 3 and 12 months after starting, one of five AEDs. We calculated the weight difference after starting the AED for each patient.

Results: 1423 patients were identified in total. The mean difference between body weight after and before starting each AED (together with 95% CI and p values for no difference) were: carbamazepine (CBZ) 0.43 (-0.19 to 1.05) p=0.17; lamotrigine (LTG) 0.31 (-0.38 to 1.00) p=0.38; levetiracetam (LEV) 1.00 (0.16 to 1.84) p=0.02; sodium valproate (VPA) 0.74 (0.10 to 1.38) p=0.02; topiramate (TPM) -2.30 (-4.27 to -0.33) p=0.02.

Conclusions: LEV and VPA were associated with significant weight gain, TPM was associated with significant weight loss, and LTG and CBZ were not associated with significant weight change.

Keywords: Anticonvulsants; Epilepsy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anticonvulsants / adverse effects*
  • Anticonvulsants / therapeutic use
  • Body Weight / drug effects*
  • Comorbidity
  • Electronic Health Records
  • Epilepsy / complications*
  • Epilepsy / drug therapy
  • Epilepsy / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Primary Health Care
  • Prospective Studies
  • Wales / epidemiology
  • Weight Gain / drug effects
  • Weight Loss / drug effects
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants