Noncompliance with medication amongst persons attending a tertiary referral epilepsy clinic: implications, management and outcome.

The present report looks at the nature, management and outcome of episodes of noncompliance with antiepileptic medication in 42 patients attending a tertiary referral epilepsy clinic with noncompliance being ascertained by patient admission. The main causes of noncompliance were forgetfulness, a refusal to take medication and a patient perception that their epilepsy was not severe enough to warrant medication. Management consisted of individual patient discussion, frequently on recurrent occasions. As far as outcome was concerned, 20 patients had no further episodes of noncompliance during the period of follow-up, five came off medication altogether and remain seizure-free, three improved but have lapses and in nine patients it was not possible to effect any change. Overall, individual patient management was helpful and worthwhile.