References
Prescribing for established adult patients with epilepsy
Abstract
This article examines prescribing for patients who have epilepsy and are on anti-epilepsy medication. It highlights the need to be vigilant when prescribing for patients with epilepsy, and be aware of the risks of any medication that you are prescribing and the impact it could have on the patient's epilepsy. The articles establishes that some patients are on anti-epilepsy drugs for indications other than epilepsy and therefore it is important to take a good medical and drug history before prescribing. When prescribing repeat anti-epilepsy medication for established patients, who are already under the care of a neurologist, the importance of the use of the specific brand and that it is in line with local and national policies is essential.
Epilepsy is a group of neurological disorders characterised by recurrent epileptic seizures – episodes that can be brief and nearly undetectable or involve long periods of vigorous shaking. Seizures have a tendency to recur and often have no immediate underlying cause.
Over 500 000 people in the UK have epilepsy (roughly 1 in 100 people). There are around 60 million people with epilepsy in the world and 87 people are diagnosed with epilepsy every day. 1 in 50 people will have epilepsy at some point in their life (though not everyone with epilepsy will have it for life). In many cases of epilepsy, the cause is unknown. Some cases occur as the result of brain injury, stroke, tumour, infections or congenital causes (Epilepsy Society, 2019).
Seizures are controlled with medication in about 70% of cases; inexpensive anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) are the mainstay of treatment. When seizures do not respond to AED therapy, surgery, neurostimulation or dietary changes may then be considered. Not all cases of epilepsy are lifelong and many people improve to the point that treatment with AEDs is no longer required (NHS Choices, 2019; World Health Organization, 2019; Schachter, 1997).
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Journal of Prescribing Practice and reading some of our peer-reviewed resources for prescribing professionals. To read more, please register today. You’ll enjoy the following great benefits:
What's included
-
Limited access to our clinical or professional articles
-
New content and clinical newsletter updates each month