Abstracts

RATIONALE: Participants will understand the link between medication compliance and breakthrough seizures. The objective is to determine the predictors of inadequate medication compliance and association with seizures.
METHODS: Questionnaires were distributed in neurologists offices asking epilepsy patients for their responses to 10 questions. Completed questionnaires were returned anonymously by mail. Bivariate and multivariate analyses and logistic regressions were performed.
RESULTS: Responses from 661 patients taking AEDs showed that 71% missed doses (mean 1.99, SD 1.97/month); 45% had a seizure after a missed dose. Patients who missed doses were more likely to have been taking AEDs [gt]5 years (p[lt]0.01). Patients who had a seizure after a missed dose were more likely to be taking more than 7 tablets daily (p[lt]0.01). The number of AED doses (p=0.01) and number of missed doses (p=0.02) were associated with seizures after a missed dose. Logistic regression was performed with number of years taking seizure medications, number of AED tablets, number of AED doses, number of all medications, and number of all tablets. The results indicated that: (a) a larger number of AED tablets taken was associated with a 43% increase in the odds of a seizure following a missed dose (p=.02), (b) increasing the number of times per day AEDs were taken (QD, BID, TID, QID) increased the odds of a seizure following a missed dose by 36% (p=.04), and (c) each increase of one missed dose per month was estimated to increase the odds of a seizure following a missed dose by 11%.
CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate the importance of using simple AED treatment regimens and the smallest number of doses and tablets to be taken daily to avoid breakthrough seizures.
[Supported by: Bertek]; (Disclosure: Consulting - Bertek)