Joseph O Fadare1, Taofiki A Sunmonu2, Idowu A Bankole3, Kehinde A Adekeye4, Sani A Abubakar5. 1. Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. 2. Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria. 3. Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria. 4. Department of Medicine, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. 5. Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
Abstract
AIM: Medication adherence remains a major challenge among patients with epilepsy (PWE) with the adverse effect profile of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) as one of its main drivers. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study among PWE in selected Nigerian tertiary healthcare facilities using the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale and the Liverpool Adverse Effect Profile (LAEP). RESULTS: 126 PWE from four tertiary healthcare facilities were included in this study comprising of 59 (46.8%) males and 67 (53.2%) females. Carbamazepine (104/70.7%), sodium valproate (23/15.6%) and phenytoin (11/7.5%) were the most commonly prescribed AEDs. Using the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale, 17.2, 38.3 and 44.5% of patients were classified as having high, medium and low adherence, respectively. The mean LAEP score was 23.69 ± 6.07. The most common reported adverse effects among respondents were tiredness (30.4%) and headache (22.5%). CONCLUSION: Medication adherence to AED was poor among patients in this study.
AIM: Medication adherence remains a major challenge among patients with epilepsy (PWE) with the adverse effect profile of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) as one of its main drivers. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study among PWE in selected Nigerian tertiary healthcare facilities using the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale and the Liverpool Adverse Effect Profile (LAEP). RESULTS: 126 PWE from four tertiary healthcare facilities were included in this study comprising of 59 (46.8%) males and 67 (53.2%) females. Carbamazepine (104/70.7%), sodium valproate (23/15.6%) and phenytoin (11/7.5%) were the most commonly prescribed AEDs. Using the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale, 17.2, 38.3 and 44.5% of patients were classified as having high, medium and low adherence, respectively. The mean LAEP score was 23.69 ± 6.07. The most common reported adverse effects among respondents were tiredness (30.4%) and headache (22.5%). CONCLUSION: Medication adherence to AED was poor among patients in this study.
Entities:
Keywords:
Liverpool Adverse Effect Profile score; adverse drug reactions; antiepileptic drugs; epilepsy treatment; medication adherence