Leading Epilepsy Advocates Propose Strategies to Heighten Treatment Expectations and Close Patient and Physician Communic...(moderator and Epilepsy Foundation CEO an...),Health

Panelists at the nine-person roundtable included some of the nation's premiere epileptologists, patients and caregivers and celebrity advocates, including Greg Grunberg, star of NBC's television series "Heroes" and father of a son with epilepsy, and New York Giants defensive back Geoffrey Pope whose grandmother has epilepsy.

Improving Treatment Plans

Roundtable participants agreed that people with epilepsy and healthcare professionals should work together to ensure treatment plans are tailored to the individual. According to the survey, 85 percent of patients would prefer to have a more active role in making their treatment decisions.

"It is crucial for patients to speak up and be a part of developing their treatment model," said Georgia Montouris, M.D., director of epilepsy services at the Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center.

Healthcare professionals surveyed say they would recommend an alternative treatment plan at least half the time for those patients experiencing medication-related side effects. "We need to increase the focus on individualizing treatment plans and strive for optimal balance between seizure control and minimization of side effects so that we can improve the overall well-being of people with epilepsy," added Dr. Montouris.

Roundtable participant Caitlin Purcell, 17, explained how her healthcare professional started her on one medication, but when she was still experiencing seizures he added new medications to her regime to help her further manage her condition. Physicians often try a variety of therapy mixes to customize the treatment approach, "and Caitlin's physician was trying to find the right 'cocktail' for her," noted D
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