Epilepsy Foundation sends information for special care

Following a series of recent news reports from the afflicted Gulf Coast, the Epilepsy Foundation today recommended the following steps for people with epilepsy requiring daily medication to prevent seizures and who have been dislocated from areas hard-hit by Hurricane Katrina.

Family, friends and relatives are urged to sharethe vital information below: * Access to medication can be a life-and-death issue for people with epilepsy due to the potential for breakthrough seizures when drug levels in the blood fall below therapeutic levels. Breakthrough seizures can take the form of non-stop seizures, called status epilepticus, and can result in neurological damage and disability, and even death.

Many dislocated individuals in the region have neither access to critically needed seizure medications nor information on how to obtain them. * The Red Cross, through its local chapters and emergency shelters, is a primary source of medication assistance. They can help provide access to medications to meet the immediate needs of affected persons.

In some localities, the Red Cross has arrangements with local clinics where people can be referred to doctors who will provide needed prescriptions. If available, individuals should provide the Red Cross disaster health representatives with prescriptions, physician contact information and other medical documentation.

* The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is preparing special instructions for access to emergency medications. We will provide the instructions as soon as they are released. * The pharmaceutical industry, which plans to donate and ship desperately-needed medicines, asked the Federal government earlier this week to do a public health assessment.

* The Partnership for Prescription Assistance brings together America's pharmaceutical companies, doctors, other health care providers, patient advocacy organizations and community groups to help qualifying patients who lack prescription coverage get the medicines they need through the public or private program that's right for them. Many will get them free or nearly free. Its mission is to increase awareness of patient assistance programs and boost enrollment of those who are eligible.

* Medco, a major mail order supplier of medications, has made arrangements with local pharmacies nationwide that will make it easier for its members who may be dislocated to obtain medication. Medco members with questions should call the customer service number on the back of their membership identification card. Dislocated individuals with memberships in other mail order services should check with their medications service and area pharmacies to see if there are similar arrangements in place.

* If a dislocated individual has purchased medications through a drugstore chain, the person should go to another location of that chain to find out if the prescription information is available through the drugstore's computer database. If it is, the prescription can be filled at the new location.The Epilepsy Foundation, a national non-profit with affiliated organizations throughout the United States, has led the fight against epilepsy since 1968.

The Foundation's goals are to ensure that people with seizures are able to participate in all life experiences; and to prevent, control and cure epilepsy through research, education, advocacy and services.