Factors affecting adherence to antiepileptic drugs therapy in Malaysia

Poor adherence to antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy can lead to various undesirable complications. Identifying the contributing factors of poor adherence is beneficial in assisting health care professionals to provide optimal interventions to control the seizures. This study aimed to identify the prevalence and factors affecting the adherence level to AED therapy in a multiracial population with epilepsy. This cross-sectional study was conducted at the neurology clinic of a tertiary care setting. Researcherassisted questionnaire was utilised. Adherence level was assessed using validated Modified Morisky Adherence Scale-8. A total of 145 patients with epilepsy were included in this study. The prevalence of poor adherence to AED therapy was 64.1%. Poor adherence level was significantly associated with younger age (χ2 = 7.609, p = 0.022), medication adverse effects (χ2 = 5.075, p = 0.020), shorter duration of epilepsy (r = 0.180, p = 0.030) and uncertainty about the necessity for AEDs (χ2 = 11.803, p = 0.001). Conclusion, prevalence of poor adherence to antiepileptic drugs was high and factors associated with poor adherence to AEDs were identified for a multiracial population with epilepsy.

How to stop antiepileptic drugs

The beginning of this new millennium is seeing a trend towards the earlier withdrawal of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), particularly in children, because of the fear of undesirable side effects and cognitive decline. Certain childhood epilepsy syndromes often remit spontaneously, rather than because of the AEDs. Such children should not be on AEDs longer than six to 12 months. Likewise, most AEDs can probably be tailed down over a maximum period of only 6 weeks rather than months. It is imperative that AED withdrawal and its schedule are discussed in great detail with the patient, and often, his or her family.