Epileptic Drugs Ups Fracture Risk in Older Adults

A new study has found that most anti-epileptic drugs are linked with an increased risk of non-traumatic fracture in individuals 50 years of age and older.

Nathalie Jette, of the University of Calgary, Foothills Hospital, Alberta, Canada, and colleagues studied medical records of 15,792 individuals who experienced non-traumatic fractures between April 1996 and March 2004. Each person was matched with up to three controls, persons without a history of fracture, for a total of 47,289 controls.

Fracture - Types - Causes - Symptoms - Diagnosis - Treatment - FAQs
A fracture is a condition where the continuity of the bone is lost. Majority of bone fractures occur because of high force impact or stress on a bone.

The individual anti-epileptic drugs studied included carbamazepine, clonazepam, ethosuximide, gabapentin, phenobarbital, phenytoin and valproic acid. Additional anti-epileptic drugs with fewer numbers of users were included together under "other anti-epileptic drugs."

The likelihood of fractures was highest for persons taking phenytoin followed by carbamazepine, other, phenobarbital, gabapentin and clonazepam. The only anti-epileptic drug not associated with an increased likelihood of fracture was valproic acid.

Similar results were found when testing for the use of anti-epileptic drugs in monotherapy (individuals taking only one anti-epileptic drug) and in polytherapy (individuals taking more than one anti-epileptic drug). All anti-epileptic drugs used in monotherapy were associated with a significantly increased risk of fracture except for valproic acid, phenobarbital and "other anti-epileptic drugs." The greatest risk of fracture was found in individuals in the polytherapy subgroups.

Colles Fracture / Broken Wrist
Colles fracture or broken wrist is a wrist fracture, which occurs within an inch of the wrist joint. Colles fracture involves the forearm bone’s distal end of the radius.

"In conclusion, our study showed that most anti-epileptic drugs except for valproic acid are associated with an increased likelihood of non-traumatic fracture in individuals aged 50 years or older," the authors write.

The study has been published in the Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Fracture-First Aid and Emergency Treatment Guide
A quick and simple First Aid guide on how to administer treatment for Fracture. Emergency first aid guide for fracture says about the do’s, don’ts and preventive measures to be taken during fracture.

Source-ANI

Fracture of Knee Cap - Causes - Symptoms - Diagnosis - Treatment - FAQs
Patella fracture is a kneecap injury that needs surgical correction. Undisplaced fracture can be healed by using a brace to keep the knee immobile.