Medication Adherence in Patient Suffering from Epilepsy: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Medication adherence is crucial in epilepsy management, as poor adherence increases seizure frequency and treatment failure. Identifying factors influencing adherence is essential for improving patient outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the medication adherence in epilepsy patients at a tertiary care teaching hospital. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at tertiary care center from 23 July 2024 to 22 January 2025 after obtaining ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee. Epileptic patients aged 21–70 years attending the outpatient Department of Medicine, without chronic comorbidities and taking antiepileptic drugs for at least 3 months and excluding those with absence seizures, vagus nerve stimulation treatment, cognitive impairments or mental health disorders, or pregnancy/lactation. Medication adherence was assessed using the Medication Adherence Report Scale-5. Convenience sampling method was used. Results: Among 108 patients, high adherence was observed in 40 (37.1%) patients, moderate in 48 (44.4%) patients, and low in 20 (18.5%) patients. Adherence was highest in the 31–40 years age group, with 26 (86.67%) adhering, and lowest in the 61–70 years group, with 6 (66.77%) adhering. Patients on monotherapy 37 (92.5%) and those with education above Class 12, 22 (91.67) showed better adherence. Key barriers included forgetfulness 30 (27.8%), financial constraints 23 (21.3%), and side effects 17 (15.7%). Conclusions: Younger age, higher education, and simpler treatment regimens have better adherence. Interventions such as education programs, cost-effective drug options, and reminder strategies (e.g., alarm clocks) can enhance adherence among epileptic patients.