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Objective: Concerns have been raised about the safety of switching from a branded antiepileptic drug (AED) to a generic AED. The goal of the study described here was to understand patients' experiences with generic AEDs in the Midwestern United States., Methods: A one-page, six-item survey was mailed to 356 patients to determine patients' awareness of the existence and their usage of generic AEDs., Results: Twenty-eight percent (27.8%) of respondents (N=179) reported breakthrough seizures they believed were a direct result of the switch from a brand to a generic AED, and 33.7% reported side effects due to the switch. Thirty-one percent (31.2%) returned to a brand-name AED as a result. Sixty-nine percent (68.8%) reported being unaware that some pharmacies switch to generic AEDs without a patient's or physician's consent, and 78.7% expressed concern over this., Conclusion: A significant percentage of patients reported that generic AEDs were responsible for breakthrough seizures and increased side effects. A significant percentage of patients also reported switching back to a brand-name AED and expressed concern over pharmacies switching to generic AEDs without a patient's or physician's consent.

Obesity and lack of physical activity are an increasing problem. In addition to common barriers to physical activity, people with epilepsy also face fear of exercise-induced seizures, medication side effects, and, often, confusing advice regarding the safety of exercise. To explore barriers faced by people with epilepsy, we mailed a survey to 412 adult patients with epilepsy from an epilepsy center in Kansas. Survey items assessed patients' exercise habits, attitudes regarding exercise, and barriers to exercise. Forty-seven percent completed the survey. Most respondents reported that they did exercise, though most did so 3 or fewer days per week and at light intensity. Respondents who reported seizures as a barrier to exercise did not exercise with less frequency or intensity than those who did not report seizures as a barrier, but these respondents reported greater fear of seizures. Patient-specific education about the benefits of exercise needs to be initiated by physicians.

Purpose: Epilepsy is a chronic neurological illness that affects 2.7 million people in the United States, but remains poorly understood. Care providers may not recognize their patients' need for epilepsy information, contributing to treatment barriers, such as stigmatization and poor patient-provider communication., Methods: The current study piloted a survey of epilepsy-related attitudes and perceptions of 33 Midwestern neurologists. The survey included questions about perceived barriers to and motivators for treatment, thoughts on misperceptions of epilepsy in the community and in the patient population, and potential interventions to address misperceptions., Results: Respondents perceived misinformation and lack of knowledge in patients and the general public that could be contributing to the barriers that exist to treat patients adequately. Respondents suggested potential methods for addressing misperceptions effectively., Discussion: This study of neurologists' perceptions about epilepsy barriers and needs provides an important perspective for the development of interventions to address misperceptions and barriers among patients and the public.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is recognized to be commonly used by patients, yet there have been few studies regarding the scope of CAM use by patients with epilepsy. This study assessed usage and perceptions of CAM by patients with epilepsy in the midwest of the United States. A 25-item survey was administered to adult patients with epilepsy, and data were collected from 228 patients. The survey collected demographics, specific CAM usage, adverse effects of CAM therapy, and perceptions of the effectiveness of CAM. Thirty-nine percent reported using CAM; 25% reported using CAM specifically for their epilepsy. Prayer/spirituality was the most commonly used form of CAM (46%), followed by "mega" vitamins (25%), chiropractic care (24%), and stress management (16%). CAM use is common among midwestern patients with epilepsy, although the pattern of use may be slightly different than in other regions of the United States and elsewhere.