Medication Adherence and Adverse Effect Profile of Antiepileptic Drugs in Nigerian Patients with Epilepsy

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.