The use of complementary medicines and alternative practitioners in a cohort of patients with epilepsy

Complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) are increasingly used by patients in the Western world. Some of the most popular herbal remedies are known to act on the cytochrome P450 system, with potential effects on antiepileptic drug (AED) levels. Few studies have explored their use in people with epilepsy. We surveyed 400 patients attending epilepsy clinics in Greater Manchester. Thirty-four percent of our patients had used or were using CAMs; the majority had not told their doctor. Use of CAMs was not predicted by age, sex, seizure frequency, number of AEDs, or dissatisfaction with conventional medicine. Patients who had gone onto higher education were significantly (P < 0.05) more likely to have used or be using CAMs. The majority of patients did not use CAMs for their epilepsy but for general health purposes. Most patients stated that CAMs had little or no effect on seizure frequency or severity.