These adverse effects are most pronounced in the first month of therapy. The most common adverse effects of levetiracetam treatment include CNS effects such as somnolence, decreased energy, headache, dizziness, mood swings and coordination difficulties. One such study published in Epilepsy Research showed no significant increase in incidence of adverse symptoms experienced by young or elderly patients with central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Studies were conducted to look for increased adverse effects in the elderly population as compared to younger patients. Studies in female pregnant rats have shown minor fetal skeletal abnormalities when given maximum recommended human doses of levetiracetam orally throughout pregnancy and lactation. Levetiracetam has not been found to be useful for treating autism, but is an effective treatment for partial, myoclonic, or tonic-clonic seizures associated with autism spectrum disorder. Levetiracetam has not been found to be useful for treatment of neuropathic pain, nor for treatment of essential tremors. It may be effective for prevention of seizures associated with subarachnoid hemorrhages.
Prevention of seizures īased on low-quality evidence, levetiracetam is about as effective as phenytoin for prevention of early seizures after traumatic brain injury. Levetiracetam is sometimes used off label to treat status epilepticus. Levetiracetam has been approved in the European Union as a monotherapy treatment for epilepsy in the case of partial seizures or as an adjunctive therapy for partial, myoclonic, and tonic-clonic seizures. It has been approved in the United States as add-on treatment for myoclonic, and tonic-clonic seizures. Levetiracetam is effective for treatment of generalized tonic-clonic epilepsy. Levetiracetam is effective as add-on treatment for partial (focal) epilepsy. It reduces focal seizures by 50% or more as an add-on medication. Levetiracetam is effective as single-drug treatment for newly diagnosed focal epilepsy in adults. In 2020, it was the 92nd most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 7 million prescriptions. Levetiracetam was approved for medical use in the United States in 1999 and is available as a generic medication. Its mechanism of action is not yet clear. Levetiracetam is the S- enantiomer of etiracetam. It is unclear if levetiracetam is safe for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Severe side effects may include psychosis, suicide, and allergic reactions such as Stevens–Johnson syndrome or anaphylaxis. Ĭommon side effects of levetiracetam include sleepiness, dizziness, feeling tired, and aggression. It is used for partial-onset, myoclonic, or tonic–clonic seizures and is taken either by mouth as an immediate or extended release formulation or by injection into a vein. Levetiracetam, sold under the brand name Keppra among others, is a medication used to treat epilepsy.
0 kommentar(er)
