This accredited eCME is directed to community neurologists in the therapeutic area of epilepsy in adults. Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases globally with over 50 million people affected worldwide. The World Health Organization estimates that 70% of people living with epilepsy could live seizure-free if properly diagnosed and treated. About 50% of newly diagnosed patients become seizure-free on the first antiepileptic drug (AED), leaving a substantial population of people who still experience seizures. Repetitive seizures are associated with an increased risk of high morbidity rates and reduced health-related quality of life. The three main goals of treatment include controlling seizures, avoiding treatment side effects, and maintaining or restoring quality of life.
The program reviews factors critical to the success of antiepileptic drug choice such as patient factors; therapeutic spectrum, mechanisms of action, side effects and adverse events of AEDs; and other special considerations. How to determine treatment success or failure is presented, and approaches are offered on how to switch or add therapies after treatment failure.