Insights into liaison between antiepileptic drugs and bone

The adverse effect on bone caused by chronic anticonvulsant therapy causes multiple abnormalities in calcium and bone metabolism, varying from bone turnover, without significant loss of cortical or trabecular bone, to osteopenia/osteoporosis and to osteomalacic disorder. The studies conducted to date have documented anticonvulsant bone disease as a state of increased bone remodeling. With the newer antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) gaining importance and starting to replace conventional medicines, it may be appropriate to compare them with the conventional AEDs and to examine their impact on multiple aspects of bone health. This review focuses on the status of the bony effects of AEDs.