Review
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2022.
World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol. Sep 22, 2022; 13(5): 143-156
Published online Sep 22, 2022. doi: 10.4291/wjgp.v13.i5.143
Table 2 Common gastrointestinal side effects of antiseizure medications[122-129]
Antiseizure medications
Common gastrointestinal side effects
CarbamazepineDry mouth, mouth sores, glossitis, loss of appetite, dysphagia, nausea, vomiting, hurt burn, gastritis, stomach/abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, abnormal liver functions, cholestatic and/or hepatocellular jaundice, hepatitis; hepatic failure (very rare), and pancreatitis (rare), eosinophilic colitis
EthosuximideAnorexia, nausea, vomiting, gastric pain, diarrhea, gastric and intestinal atony with decreased peristaltic activity
PhenobarbitalDiarrhea, sore throat, swelling of the tongue/throat, nausea, vomiting, constipation, dysphagia, and heartburn. As it is a cytochrome P450 hepatic enzyme inducer, it can cause abnormal hepatic function, hepatitis, liver damage, cholestasis, toxic hepatitis, and jaundice
PhenytoinChanges in taste sensation, gingival overgrowth, sore throat, mouth ulcers, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, constipation, dysphagia, heartburn, idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity (< 1% of the patients), reduced gastrointestinal absorption of calcium, reduced hepatic synthesis of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol, cause a relative vitamin K deficiency
ValproateDiarrhea, nausea, vomiting, constipation, dysphagia, gastritis with heartburn, several distinctive forms of acute and chronic liver injury, and vitamin D deficiency
GabapentinVomiting, constipation, gastritis, pancreatitis
TopiramateTaste perversion, anorexia, nausea, abdominal pain, indigestion, diarrhea, constipation
LamotrigineDry mouth, nausea, vomiting, gastritis, diarrhea, or constipation