Epilepsy Drug Linked to Bone Loss

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After one year, women taking Dilantin lost 2.6 percent of their bone density in the femoral neck of the hip, while bone mineral density stayed about the same in the other three groups.

Bone mineral density stayed the same at the spine and the total hip.

The speed (one year) at which Dilantin affected bone health was surprising, said Dr. Steven V. Pacia, director of the division of neurology at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

Women who need to take epilepsy drugs can either switch to a medication other than Dilantin, or they can up their intake of calcium, said Pack.

But according to Pacia, calcium supplementation may not be enough to counteract the bone-depleting effect of Dilantin.

"There may be a direct affect on bone absorption of calcium," Pacia said. "If the mechanism is damaged, the bone is not going to be able to take up calcium. An alternate drug that doesn't cause the same problem is preferable. In the rare cases we had to use [Dilantin], drugs like Fosamax and Boniva can be used to try to counteract the effect, and that does happen."

"We're just beginning to recognize that we need to look at the long-term health care issues of anti-convulsants," Ramsay said.

More information

The Epilepsy Foundation has more on this condition.