Facebook Live: Medication Adherence

Epilepsy News From: Wednesday, December 30, 2020

Join us on Thursday, January 14, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. ET.

It’s important to take seizure medications regularly and as directed by your health care provider. This is also called medication adherence. Medication adherence gives you the best chance to achieve the goals of epilepsy therapy: no seizures and no side effects. When doses are missed or the medicine is taken irregularly, you are at greater risk of having seizures and more likely to have side effects.

There are many reasons you or your loved one might have trouble taking their medication as prescribed. Reasons like memory problems, side effects, or instructions that are too complicated. When any of these occur, you need to figure out why. By knowing why, you can help the medicine work for you every day.

Join us for a Facebook Live on January 14, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. ET to hear about medication adherence and learn how to tackle barriers to following your treatment plan. Bring your questions and we’ll share resources from the Epilepsy Foundation too!

Brandy Fureman, chief outcomes officer at the Epilepsy Foundation, will be asking our panel questions like:

  • What is medication adherence? Why is it a problem?
  • What are some of the common adherence barriers to anti-seizure medicines?
  • If adherence barriers are identified, can they be worked on and improved?
  • And more!
Join Us on Facebook @EpilepsyFoundationofAmerica

Speakers

avani modi
 

Avani Modi, PhD.

Avani Modi, PhD, is professor in Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati-College of Medicine. She is the director of the Center for Adherence and Self-Management at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Dr. Modi has several grants from the National Institutes of Health focused on adherence for children and adolescents with epilepsy. Dr. Modi has over 150 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters, as well as a book focused on adherence and self-management. Her research focuses on mobile health interventions to improve adherence to anti-seizure medications and quality of life in youth with epilepsy. She has received numerous national and local honors and awards and is an international expert in adherence and self-management.

Alison Kukla
 

Alison Kukla, MPH

Alison Kukla is the program manager for the Epilepsy Learning Healthcare System (ELHS) at the Epilepsy Foundation. Within the ELHS, she leads the Community Core and supports ELHS workgroups focused on seizure documentation and barriers to medication adherence. From 2010-2017, she worked as a political appointee for the Obama Administration in both the White House at the Office of Public Engagement and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at the Office of Children’s Health Protection. Alison was diagnosed with epilepsy as a college freshman and since then she has been an epilepsy advocate, volunteering with various epilepsy organizations, foundations, and non-profits. Alison received her master’s degree in public health (MPH) from the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University.

shanna tolbert with child
 

Shanna Tolbert

Shanna Tolbert lives in Atlanta with her husband, Terry, and two daughters. Their oldest daughter has a CACNA1A variant. She believes that with adequately funded research, life-changing treatment options can be available to CACNA1A patients. Shanna has a BBA in Economics from the University of Georgia. After a middle school teaching career, she is now home with her children and dedicating time to the CACNA1A Foundation's efforts. She is honored to be a founding member of the CACNA1A Foundation and is excited for the organization's future of making a difference in the lives of affected families.

Authored by

Alison Kukla MPH

Reviewed by

Liz Dueweke MPH

Reviewed Date

Wednesday, December 30, 2020

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