ArcMesa Educators - Neurology CME Courses

Generic Substitution and Therapeutic Equivalence of Antiepileptic Drugs: Clinical and Pharmacoeconomic Issues in Epilepsy Management
A Priority Report
Faculty: John M. Pellock, MD | Andrew J. Pultz, Jr, PharmD, RPh
CME / CE credit hour: 1.0
The issue of generic drug substitution is complex and often poorly understood by physicians and pharmacists. Although the FDA requires that two drugs are similar as demonstrated by bioequivalence data, therapeutic equivalence (or therapeutic effectiveness) and bioequivalence are not necessarily the same. In the case of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), the therapeutic range over which they are effective may be narrow and, although generic substitution of AEDs may be appropriate for some patients with epilepsy, it may represent suboptimal care for others. This program will give an overview of these and other important issues associated with generic substitution of AEDs.

Generic Substitution and Therapeutic Equivalence of Antiepileptic Drugs: Clinical and Pharmacoeconomic Issues in Epilepsy Management
Faculty: John M. Pellock, MD | Andrew J. Pultz, Jr, PharmD, RPh | Michael C. Smith, MD
CME / CE credit hour: 1.0
The issue of generic drug substitution is complex and often poorly understood by physicians and pharmacists. Although the FDA requires that two drugs are similar as demonstrated by bioequivalence data, therapeutic equivalence (or therapeutic effectiveness) and bioequivalence are not necessarily the same. In the case of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), the therapeutic range over which they are effective may be narrow and, although generic substitution of AEDs may be appropriate for some patients with epilepsy, it may represent suboptimal care for others. This program will give an overview of these and other important issues associated with generic substitution of AEDs.

A Global Look at Second Generation Anti-Epileptic Drug Treatment (Accreditation Expired)
Faculty: Blaise F. D. Bourgeois, MD | Edward P. Sloan, MD, MPH | Barry E. Gidal, PharmD, RPh | Andres M. Kanner, MD
CME credit hours: 1.5
Physicians face unique diagnostic and treatment challenges when treating patients with seizures. Primary care physicians may not be familiar with current treatment options and clinical trial evidence supporting newer first-line agents. In the emergency setting, the evaluation and treatment of a patient with seizures depends upon whether the patient has a history of epilepsy or is presenting with his or her first seizure. Emergency health physicians must decide what level of treatment. This program features a distinguished panel of experts sharing clinical experiences and suggesting strategies for treating patients with epilepsy with a focus on primary care and emergency treatment.

Current Perspectives in Epilepsy Treatment: Focus on Monotherapy
(Accreditation Expired)
Faculty: John M. Pellock, MD | Michael D. Privitera, MD
CME credit hour: 1.0
Combination therapy with antiepileptic drugs is associated with a variety of complications, including toxicity and the potential for drug interactions. In addition, many patients who do not respond to sequential monotherapy, will not become seizure-free with polytherapy. Monotherapy has several advantages over polytherapy, including a reduced risk of side effects and complications due to drug interactions, lower cost, and better compliance. hts issues relating to the use of newer antiepileptic drugs as monotherapy in the treatment of adults and children with epilepsy.

Pediatric Epilepsy: Identifying & Treating Different Seizure Types
(Accreditation Expired)
Faculty: John M. Pellock, MD | James W. Wheless, MD | Patricia Dean, ARNP, MSN
CME Credit hour: 1.0
Nearly one-third of the population newly diagnosed with epilepsy each year is children. More specifically, 45,000 children under the age of 15 develop epilepsy each year. Classification of seizure disorders has evolved considerably over time and many new treatment options have become available in recent years. For the majority of patients, seizures can be adequately controlled without unendurable side effects. This program will examine issues and considerations related to identifying seizure types and managing epilepsy in pediatric patients.

Special Considerations in the Treatment of Geriatric Epilepsy
(Accreditation Expired)
Faculty: Mark Spitz, MD | James Cloyd, PharmD | Ilo Leppik, MD
CME Credit hour: 1.0
Currently, 1.5 million elderly people reside in nursing homes, therefore as many as 150,000 elderly patients in nursing homes may be taking AEDs. The widespread prevalence of epilepsy in this population indicates a need to educate the physicians who treat them. Upon completing t his program, physicians will be able to discuss the epidemiology of epilepsy in the elderly, review the means by which seizures are produced and presented in geriatric patients to better understand which treatment is most appropriate, and discuss the special considerations that must be addressed regarding drug interactions in these patients as well as new data regarding the safety and tolerability of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments in this population.

Epilepsy.com/Professionals mission is to inform and empower doctors, nurses and other health care providers when caring for patients facing an epilepsy diagnosis or struggling with epilepsy that has resisted the usual treatments. With similar objectives as its parent website Epilepsy.com, Epilepsy.com/Professionals provides the most comprehensive, multi-layered online epilepsy resource of knowledge and informed opinions contributed, reviewed by, and shared among professionals in the epilepsy field with the aim of empowering clinicians and professionals and supporting best practices in patient care.