Epilepsy affects approximately 1.2% of the US population, with about one-third of individuals experiencing drug-resistant epilepsy despite treatment with antiseizure medications (ASMs). Nonadherence to ASMs is common among patients with epilepsy, contributing to preventable seizures and misclassification as having drug-resistant epilepsy. Continued seizures can lead to increased morbidity, mortality, and higher healthcare costs, making it crucial to identify when patients struggle with adherence. Effective interventions to address this issue are essential for improving patient outcomes.
In a cross-sectional study of 4,917 individuals from 8 epilepsy clinics across the US, barriers to medication adherence were reported by 18.4% of participants. The most common barriers included forgetting to take ASMs (48.2%), side effects (29.2%), and a perception that the medications were ineffective (21.3%). Patients reporting adherence barriers had 0.6 lower odds of achieving seizure control. This study highlights the need for standardized screening to identify adherence challenges. It also suggests that behavioral strategies tailored to these barriers could improve medication adherence and seizure control for patients with epilepsy.
Reference: Donahue MA, Akram H, Brooks JD. Barriers to Medication Adherence in People Living With Epilepsy. Neurol Clin Pract. 2025 Feb;15(1):e200403. doi: 10.1212/CPJ.0000000000200403. Epub 2024 Nov 27. PMID: 39610394; PMCID: PMC11604104.
