Pharmacotherapeutic characteristics of pharmacoresistant epilepsy among adults: a cross-sectional study

Autores/as

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2176-7262.rmrp.2025.224790

Palabras clave:

Antiepileptic drugs, Refractory epilepsies, Drug compliance

Resumen

Pharmacoresistant epilepsy affects 30% of patients. Treatment requires evaluating drug efficacy, adverse events, and patient compliance. Objective: The purpose of this study is to describe the pharmacotherapeutic, demographic, and socioeconomic characteristics of patients with pharmacoresistant epilepsy treated at a specialized outpatient clinic, as well as to assess the knowledge and adherence of patients to pharmacological treatment and to identify the most frequent adverse events (AE). Design and setting: A cross-sectional study at the Clinical Hospital of the Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto (HCFMRP) in Brazil. Methods: Between August 28 and November 13, 2019, a total of 217 patients diagnosed with pharmacoresistant epilepsy and using antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) were included in the study. Data was collected through interviews using a validated questionnaire and medical record analysis. Results: Polytherapy was most prevalent (92.1%). The most frequently used AEDs were clobazam, lamotrigine, carbamazepine, and topiramate. The average AE score was 41.4 points (standard deviation [SD] = 11.4). 66.4% had free access to drugs. Patients’ knowledge of AED therapy had a mean score of 93.5 points (SD = 16.7). Greater knowledge was associated with greater adherence (Odds Ratio [OR] = 2.51 | 95%CI: 1.11; 5.65) and lower AE incidence (OR = 0.47 | 95%CI: 0.27; 0.83). Non-adherence rates were 47.5%, and variables significantly associated (P ˂ 0.05) with non-adherence were found. Conclusion: Patients have good knowledge about pharmacological treatment, and prescriptions are in line with national guidelines, but integrated and continuous care is needed to optimize adherence and health services.

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Biografía del autor/a

  • Paula Sousa França Mencucini, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre (RS), Brazil

    MSc

  • Marília Silveira de Almeida Campos, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre (RS), Brazil

    MSc

  • Vinícius Detoni Lopes, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto (SP), Brazil

    MSc. PhD Candidate

  • João Paulo Vilela Rodrigues, University of São Paulo, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto (SP), Brazil

    MSc. PhD Candidate

  • Fabiana Coelho Inouye, University of São Paulo, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto (SP), Brazil

    MSc. PhD Candidate

  • Maria Olívia Barboza Zanetti, University of São Paulo, School of Nursing of Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto (SP), Brazil

     PhD. Professor

  • Fabiana Rossi Varallo, University of São Paulo, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto (SP), Brazil

    PhD. Professor

  • Leonardo Régis Leira Pereira, University of São Paulo, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto (SP), Brazil

    PhD. Associate Professor

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Publicado

2026-02-13

Número

Vol. 58 Núm. 3 (2025)

Sección

Artigo Original

Licencia

Derechos de autor 2026 Paula Sousa França Mencucini, Marília Silveira de Almeida Campos, Vinícius Detoni Lopes, João Paulo Vilela Rodrigues, Fabiana Coelho Inouye, Maria Olívia Barboza Zanetti, Fabiana Rossi Varallo, Leonardo Régis Leira Pereira

Creative Commons License

Esta obra está bajo una licencia internacional Creative Commons Atribución 4.0.

 

 

Cómo citar

1.
Mencucini PSF, Campos MS de A, Lopes VD, Rodrigues JPV, Inouye FC, Zanetti MOB, et al. Pharmacotherapeutic characteristics of pharmacoresistant epilepsy among adults: a cross-sectional study. Medicina (Ribeirão Preto) [Internet]. 13 de febrero de 2026 [citado 14 de febrero de 2026];58(3):e-224790. Disponible en: https://revistas.usp.br/rmrp/article/view/224790