Unregistered User If this is not your name, click here.
		Contact Us | Order Now | Journals | Bookstore | Register a colleague
	Select a ChannelAcneAIDS and HIVAllergy OtherAlzheimer'sAnaesthesiology OtherAngina Pectoris/MIAnxietyArthritis OtherAsthmaBack PainBacterial InfectionsBladder CancerBone Marrow TransplantationBreast CancerCardiology OtherCataractCell TransplantationCervical CancerCholesterol/Lipid disordersCirrhosisClinical PharmacologyColorectal CancerCongestive Heart FailureContact DermatitisContraceptionCOPDCystic FibrosisDental and Oral DisordersDepressionDermatology OtherDiabetesDialysisEating DisordersElbowEmergency MedicineEndocrinology OtherEpilepsyErectile DysfunctionFibromyalgiaGastro OtherGeneticsGenitourinary OtherGeriatricsGERD/GastritisGlaucomaH. Pylori/UlcerHaematology OtherHair LossHeadachesHepa/Biliary OtherHepatitisHipHRTHypertensionIBDImmunologyInfectious OtherInfertilityIntensive CareIrritable Bowel SyndromeKneeLeukemiasLiver CancerLung CancerLupusLymphomasMelanomaMenopauseMultiple Sclerosis Nephrology OtherNeurologic OtherNutritional / Metabolic OtherOb/Gyn OtherObesityOncology OtherOphth. OtherOphthalmic SurgeryOrgan TransplantationOrthopaedics OtherOsteoarthritisOsteoporosisOtitisOtorhino. OtherOvarian CancerPaediatricsPainPancreatic CancerParkinson'sPregnancyProstate CancerPsychiatry OtherPulmonary OtherRadiologyRenal CancerRenal FailureRespiratory InfectionsRheumatoid arthritisRheumatology OtherRhinitisSchizophreniaShoulderSleep ApnoeaSleep DisordersSpineStrokeSTDsSurgeryThyroid DisordersTransfusionTransplant Surgery OtherTraumaUrinary IncontinenceUrinary tract infectionsVaccinologyVascular DisordersViral Infections

SEARCH   News Bookstore Medline The Web Meetings & Congresses Complete Doctor's Guide    EXPLORE :    All News   All Webcasts   All Cases   All Meetings & Congresses   All Medical Resources New drugs / indications English Dictionary Medical Dictionary Thesaurus Warning | Privacy | Awards  Favourite Journals  Click here to choose your favourite journals  Favourite Sites  Click here to choose your favourite sites  Languages  Select languageEnglishFrançais

Nonadherence to Antiepileptic Drugs Associated With Increased Mortality NEW YORK -- June 18, 2008 -- Patients with epilepsy who fail to regularly take their antiepileptic medication could be 3 times more likely to die compared with patients who adhere to their medication regimen, according to a study published today in the online issue of Neurology. Researchers employed a retrospective, open-cohort design using insurance claim records from 3 US state Medicaid programs from January 1997 through June 2006. The study included 33,658 people diagnosed with epilepsy who filled at least 2 epilepsy drug prescriptions. The study found that patients who took their antiepileptic medication less than 80% of the time over the course of 3 months had more than a threefold increased risk of mortality compared with patients who were adherent within the same period of time (hazard ratio [HR] = 3.32; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.11-3.54). In addition, the study showed that time periods of nonadherence were associated with an increase in hospital admission, up by 86%, and emergency room visits increased by 50%, compared with periods of adherence. There also appeared to be a significantly higher incidence of motor vehicle accident injuries and fractures. Only head injuries were less common during periods of nonadherence to antiepileptic drugs. "These results are concerning, since some studies show about 30% to 50% of people with epilepsy do not take their medication regularly," said study author Edward Faught, MD, University of Alabama Epilepsy Center, Birmingham, Alabama. "There are many reasons epileptic patients fail to take their seizure medications, including cost, side effects, and pregnancy. But this study suggests that none of those reasons overshadow the threat of death or other problems related to uncontrolled seizures. Patients need to stay on their medications, and physicians need to recognize and treat issues related to people failing to take epilepsy drugs," said Dr. Faught. SOURCE: American Academy of Neurology E-mail this page to a friend or colleague! To print, use this version