“Study Reveals Impact of Non-Recommended Epilepsy Medications on Patient Care”
A recent study set out to explore how well the treatment guidelines for epilepsy are being followed, specifically looking at the impact of using non-recommended antiseizure medications (ASMs) on healthcare utilization. Epilepsy, a neurological disorder that causes seizures, is commonly treated with ASMs, but not all medications are equally effective or safe. Researchers focused on adults who had just been diagnosed with epilepsy between 2015 and 2019, and they analyzed their treatment patterns and subsequent healthcare needs.
The study involved nearly 14,700 patients who were prescribed ASMs within a year of their diagnosis. The most frequently used medications were levetiracetam, gabapentin, and topiramate, with about 4% of patients receiving medications that guidelines recommend avoiding. Alarmingly, around 74% of these newly diagnosed epilepsy patients ended up visiting the emergency department or being hospitalized during the follow-up period.
What’s particularly interesting is the difference in acute care visits between those prescribed recommended ASMs versus those on medications that should be avoided. Patients on ASMs that were not recommended had an average of 4.42 acute care visits compared to 3.34 visits for those on recommended medications. This suggests that sticking to the guidelines can significantly reduce the need for emergency medical care.
Overall, the findings highlight a pressing issue in the management of epilepsy: while many adults require acute care, there remains a subset of patients receiving medications that could lead to worse health outcomes. By optimizing the choice of first ASM in epilepsy treatment, healthcare providers can potentially improve patient outcomes and reduce unnecessary hospital visits. This study reinforces the need for medical professionals to stay updated with treatment guidelines to ensure that patients receive the best possible care from the start.