ANTISEIZURE medication shortages were linked to more seizure-related emergency visits and seizure clusters among adults with epilepsy.
Antiseizure Medication Shortages and Emergency Care
Shortages of outpatient antiseizure medication may be placing additional pressure on emergency services, according to a retrospective study of adults with epilepsy presenting to a public hospital emergency department in Bogotá, Colombia. Investigators compared seizure-related emergency department visits during March to May 2023, when no shortage was reported, with the same period in 2024, when shortages were ongoing.
A total of 281 patients were included, comprising 107 patients in 2023 and 174 in 2024. Among these admissions, 61 were directly related to lack of outpatient antiseizure medication, rising from 7 cases in 2023 to 54 in 2024. Emergency department visits attributed to antiseizure medication unavailability increased from 6.5% to 31%, representing a significant increase during the shortage period. The reported odds ratio was 6.4, with a 95% confidence interval of 2.7 to 17.4.
Greater Risk of Seizure Clusters
Patients affected by antiseizure medication shortages were also more likely to experience seizure clusters. The odds ratio for seizure clusters was 2.43, with a 95% confidence interval of 1.2 to 5.1, suggesting that disruption to outpatient access may have immediate clinical consequences beyond a simple increase in presentations. The authors also observed a trend toward longer hospital stays in patients affected by shortages.
Despite the increase in seizure-related emergency visits and the higher risk of seizure clusters, mortality and ICU admissions did not differ between the two study periods. Even so, the findings suggest that antiseizure medication shortages can worsen seizure control and increase hospital burden, even when the most severe outcomes remain unchanged.
Implications for Epilepsy Management
The authors concluded that stable outpatient access to antiseizure medication is essential for maintaining seizure control and avoiding preventable complications in epilepsy care. They noted that effective national distribution and monitoring strategies may be necessary to reduce treatment interruptions and limit avoidable emergency department use. For clinicians, the findings reinforce how closely medication access, adherence, and acute seizure risk may be linked when supply disruptions occur.
Reference
Espinosa-Jovel C et al. Consequences of outpatient antiseizure medication shortages in the emergency department. Epileptic Disord. 2026;DOI:10.1002/epd2.70223.
