Media
Press Releases
2010
Monday 1 March 2010
It’s time for your medication DVD
The first downloadable DVD resource to explain what life is like for people using epilepsy medication is available today, Monday 1 March on YouTube. Entitled ‘Taking the tablets’, this new DVD answers many common questions that newly-diagnosed individuals want to know about anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs).
Five national epilepsy charities, all members of the Joint Epilepsy Council, have collaborated to fill an important DVD information gap about why taking tablets matters. Epilepsy Action, Epilepsy Bereaved, Epilepsy Scotland, the National Society for Epilepsy and The National Centre for Young People with Epilepsy pooled their health expertise and contacts. Volunteers agreed to share their experiences of being on epilepsy drugs on camera for the benefit of others.
Dr Henry Smithson, a Senior Lecturer in General Practice who took part in the DVD said: “Anti-epileptic drugs are the commonest form of treatment used for people who have seizures. The majority of people with epilepsy are looking at taking medication for a long period of time, indeed sometimes life-long.”
This short DVD is straightforward about the reasons to take medication and is based on first hand experiences. People can put their mind at rest by also talking things over with their doctor, specialist nurse or local epilepsy helpline. Two thousand copies of the DVD have been produced and distributed across the UK for use at epilepsy clinics and by specialist nurses and fieldworkers. The general public across the world can view ‘Taking the tablets’ on YouTube.
ENDS
Notes to editor
- Contact details for the five charities creating the ‘Taking the tablets’ DVD are: Epilepsy Scotland: Communications Manager, Allana Parker,
T: 0141 427 4911, M: 07884 012 147, E: aparker@epilepsyscotland.org.uk. National Society for Epilepsy: Communications Manager Amanda Cleaver, T: 01494 601404, M: 07870 636691, E: Amanda.Cleaver@epilepsysociety.org.ukEpilepsy Action: PR and Campaigns Manager, Aimee Ghee, T: 0113 210 8800
Epilepsy Bereaved: Fiona McDonald, T: 01554 778450,
The National Centre for Young People with Epilepsy: Head of Communications, Sarah Clifford, T: 01342 8315322. - ‘Taking the tablets’ patient resource DVD was produced by Alice Hanscomb (Hanscomb Training and Consultancy) with Victor Jamison (Quadrillion TV production company). It can be accessed on YouTube here.
- The Joint Epilepsy Council (JEC) of the UK and Ireland is an umbrella organisation with 24 members. Visit www.jointepilepsycouncil.org.uk
- For interviews with Police Inspector, Ross Bennet, Strathclyde firefighter David Dundas or Scottish Parliament Head of Personnel, Mary Nicol please contact: Epilepsy Scotland.