Epilepsy for healthcare providers

• In Aotearoa New Zealand, approximately 40 to 50 thousand people are affected by epilepsy, with approximately 2,000 new diagnoses each year. (MOH website, April 2019)
• The Epilepsy Consumer Experience Survey 2018 found – “Common experiences and issues highlighted by the survey included social challenges, anxiety or depression, physical injury, social isolation and being unable to drive for periods of time.”
• About one third of the people with epilepsy have a type that is resistant to anti-seizure medication (ASM).
• Children and older people are more likely to be diagnosed with epilepsy than other age groups.
• Approximately 60 people die from an epilepsy related cause each year.

Consumer experience survey 2018, Ministry of Health, April 2019(external link) 

Adherence to medicines

• Good adherence to anti-seizure medicines is necessary to maximise a patient’s chance of being seizure free. However, poor adherence is reported in up to half of patients with epilepsy.
• Forgetfulness is a major contributor to patients, or their caregivers, missing doses
• Encourage patients and caregivers to set a routine for taking medicines and to use reminder techniques such as alarms, smart phone apps, medicine blister packs, pill boxes or a diary so that doses are not forgotten
• Education is a key part of helping patients and caregivers understand the need for regular dosing of anti-seizure medicines
• Simple medicine regimens and 90-day dispensings of medicines can help improve adherence; review a patient’s prescriptions and how often they need to visit a pharmacy to see if changes can be made.

Read more 

Helping patients with epilepsy adhere to their medicines(external link) BPAC, NZ, 2017
Benefits and risks of taking antiepileptic medicine for females – information for healthcare professionals.(external link) Accident Compensation Corporation, NZ

Epilepsy guidelines and pathways for children and young adults(external link) Starship, NZ, 2017 
Hamilton KJ, et al. Mortality and morbidity of patients with treated and untreated epilepsy in NZ(external link) Epilepsia 2020;61(3):519-527

EpiNet study group(external link) EpiNet, NZ

Benefits and risks of taking anti-seizure medicines for epilepsy, mental health or pain(external link) ACC, NZ, 2020
Balancing the benefits and risks of prescribing antiepileptic medicines in women(external link) BPAC, NZ, 2018
Use of sodium valproate (Epilim) in girls and women – change to indications and contraindications(external link) Medsafe, NZ, 2019
Sodium valproate (Epilim) use in people who can father children – important new safety information(external link) Medsafe, NZ, 2023
Topiramate use in pregnancy – further restrictions for safety(external link) Medsafe, NZ, 2023 
Using contraception with enzyme-inducing medicines(external link) NHS, UK, 2025

Video: Goodfellow Unit Webinar: The role of the GP in care of children with epilepsy

(Goodfellow Unit Webinar, NZ, 2022)

Video: Goodfellow Unit Webinar: Managing common neurological conundrums

(Goodfellow Unit Webinar, NZ, 2020)

Video: Neurology update, 2 of 6. 60-second neurological exam, and case: multiple sclerosis (36 minutes)

(Pharmac Seminar Series, NZ, 2015)

Neurology update, 4 of 6. Interactive cases: diagnosing seizures, pseudoseizures and epilepsy (51 minutes)

(Pharmac Seminar Series, 2015)

For other videos in the same series, visit neurology update – clinician seminar(external link).

An extensive list of epilepsy focussed Cochrane Reviews with topics ranging from acupuncture, vitamins and dietary changes for epilepsy to antiepileptic medications and surgical procedures. 

2016 Epilepsy Group Summary

1. Immediate antiepileptic drug treatment, versus placebo, deferred, or no treatment for first unprovoked seizure(external link)
2. Treatments for the prevention of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP)(external link)
3. Polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation for drug-resistant epilepsy(external link)
4. Transcranial magnetic stimulation for the treatment of epilepsy(external link)
5. Treatment of epilepsy for people with Alzheimer's disease(external link)
6. Monotherapy treatment of epilepsy in pregnancy – congenital malformation outcomes in the child(external link)
7. Topiramate versus carbamazepine monotherapy for epilepsy – an individual participant data review(external link) 
8. Care delivery and self-management strategies for adults with epilepsy(external link)  (Update) 
9. Ketogenic diet and other dietary treatments for epilepsy(external link) (Update)
10. Melatonin as add-on treatment for epilepsy(external link) (Update) 
11. View more(external link)

Epilepsy topics