Antidepressant Use and Risk of Epilepsy and Seizures in People Aged 20 to 64 Years: Cohort Study Using a Primary Care Database

The use of antidepressants is tied to higher risk of seizure and epilepsy.

​This study was conducted to assess whether people who take antidepressants are at increased risk of developing seizure and epilepsy. Researchers monitored the drug prescription of 283,963 patients with depression aged 20-64 years. During the 5-year study period, 878 patients had experienced their first episode of seizure. 

Researchers discovered that the incidence of seizure and epilepsy rose with the use of antidepressant medications. This study points out that antidepressant use might be a risk factor for the development of seizure and epilepsy.