Epilepsy drugs may have damaging effects on children's bones
In a study published in Epilepsia, young people taking anti-epileptic drugs experienced elevated rates of bone fractures and had reductions in tibial bone mineral density and lower limb muscle force.
The study included 23 individuals aged 5-18 years who had been taking anti-epileptic drugs for at least 12 months. Each individual was matched to a twin, sibling, or first cousin.
The findings suggest the need to further explore bone health issues in young patients taking anti-epileptic medications.
"These results need to be validated in a larger, longitudinal study investigating the association between anti-epileptic drug exposure and adverse outcomes in the developing skeleton over time," wrote the authors of the study.
More information: Peter J. Simm et al, Impaired bone and muscle development in young people treated with antiepileptic drugs, Epilepsia (2017). DOI: 10.1111/epi.13893
