title: How to get patients with epilepsy to take their medication. The problem of noncompliance.
abstract: Noncompliance in patients with epilepsy is a serious hindrance to successful treatment. It can result in increased healthcare costs and put both the patients and others around them at unnecessary risk. Noncompliance should be considered whenever a patient has (1) an unexpected increase in number of severity of seizures, (2) serum levels of anticonvulsant medications below the expected range, or (3) a change in medical reimbursement systems. Effective intervention strategies are based on assessment of life-style issues and possible barriers to compliance. Communication with the patient about medication regimens and the value of treatment is extremely important, and a real partnership between physician and patient is needed to set and achieve goals.
authors.affiliation: MINCEP Epilepsy Care, Minneapolis, MN 55416.
authors.forename: I E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Leppik
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011788:Quality of Life
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants