Side Effect Of Levetiracetam Research Articles

GABA System in Anxiety Disorders: A Review of Current and Novel GABAergic Drugs

This is an article for defying diverse of drugs in GABA system showing effect in treating anxiety or not. In the passage, the authors discuss the effect and side effect of levetiracetam, gabapentin and pregabalin, tiagabine, and several novel medications which are AZD7325, PF-06372865, BNC-210, SAGE-217. Some of these drugs were certified and has been put into use for decades, while others may be lack of solid test or further experiment for treating anxiety disorders. The main aim of review is evaluating the recent evidence to find out the included GABAergic drugs’ potential that is most likely to be beneficial for future therapy of treating anxiety disorders, listing the effect and side effect according to the research, and making comparison to other types of anti-anxieties. In the result, BNC-210 and SAGE-217, as the novel GABAergic drug, are more effective than others, also with less and mild side effects. All the evidence are collected from the papers that written by authorities.

Levetiracetam-induced drug reaction: violaceous discrete maculopapular rash: A case report

Introduction:Levetiracetam, a newer second generation antiepileptic, is widely used now a days by physicians, neurologist, and neurosurgeons due to its lesser side effects. The most common side effects known of them are nervousness, irritability somnolence, fatigue, dizziness, and psychosis. Methods: We present a case report with an erythematous to violaceous discrete maculopapular rash presenting bilaterally symmetrical over the extremes to thighs, upper trunk, and the fore head as a side effect of Levetiracetam. Results: There was complete improvement of the pigmentation after stopping the medicine with the use of local kalamine lotions with oral steroids for 14 days. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is rare as a side effect of levetiracetam. With this information, we will like to get more reports of the side effects of the widely drugs used so frequently.

Efficacy of Levetiracetam in neonatal seizures: a systematic review

Background Neonatal seizures represent the most frequent presenting sign of any neurological abnormality secondary to various etiologies in the neonatal period. Phenobarbitone (PB) has been used as first-line anti-epileptic drug in the treatment of seizures but concerns have been raised regarding its neuro-apoptotic effects over the developing brain. Levetiracetam (LEV) is a newer anti-epileptic drug with neuroprotective property and has been used in adults and pediatric patient but its use in neonates have very limited experience. Recently many neonatal studies have sought the role of LEV in the management of neonatal seizures. Aims and objective To evaluate the efficacy of Levetiracetam in the management of neonatal seizures. Search methods The literature search was done for this systematic review by searching the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and other various electronic databases including PubMed and various sites for ongoing trials and abstracts of conferences. Results Two eligible studies were analyzed that fulfilled the inclusion criteria of the systematic review. Fifteen studies were excluded due to the non-fulfillment of inclusion criteria. The primary outcome of both studies was to see the efficiency of LEV in controlling neonatal seizures when compared to PB. Better seizure control after a single loading dose of LEV was seen. Rates of seizure cessation at 24 h was also better in the LEV arm. Neonatal seizures secondary to hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and receiving therapeutic hypothermia were better controlled with LEV. The side effect of LEV was significantly less when compared to PB. Conclusion Levetiracetam has shown to have promising anti-epileptic properties for the management of neonatal seizure with better efficacy and less or no side effects. There is a need to conduct more randomized controlled trials seeking the role of LEV in the acute management of neonatal seizures and also for assessing its neuroprotective role and neurodevelopmental outcome in these neonates.

Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of levetiracetam treatment for neonatal seizures in extremely preterm infants

Aim: Levetiracetam (LEV) is increasingly being used to treat seizures in the neonatal period. Data about using LEV in extremely preterm infants with seizures is insufficient and limited with only a handful studies. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of LEV in the treatment of seizures in extremely preterm infants.Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted on extremely premature newborns, those who were born ≤28 weeks of gestational age, and took their first intravenous dose of levetiracetam due to neonatal seizure before their 44th gestational week between September 2017-February 2019. Loading and maintenance dosage of LEV, previously used antiepileptic medications, response to treatment and side effects of LEV were recorded.Results: Twenty extremely preterm neonates (9 males and 11 females) who received LEV were evaluated. Gestational ages ranged from 23 to 28 weeks, with a median of 26.5 weeks. Birth weights ranged from 520-1210 gr and 15 infants (75%) had extremely low birth weights. For the treatment of seizures, 12 patients (60 %) were initially started on levetiracetam as first-line therapy and eight patients (40%) were administered levetiracetam as a second or third-line antiepileptic drug. The efficiency of seizure control with LEV was 60 % (12/20) in all patients. The median LEV dose at the time seizure control was achieved was 40 mg/kg. No side effects were observed due to LEV treatment. Conclusion: This study shows that LEV can be efficient and safe for seizure management in extremely preterm infants. Seizure control was better achieved when LEV was given as the first-line antiepileptic medication in extremely preterm infants.

Does pyridoxine control behavioral symptoms in adult patients treated with levetiracetam? Case series from UAE.

Behavioral symptoms are known side effects of levetiracetam. Previous case series in children and adolescents have demonstrated the potential effect of pyridoxine in ameliorating these symptoms. We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 51 patients treated with pyridoxine to control agitation and irritability following the introduction of levetiracetam. These symptoms were relieved in 34 patients (66.6%). Seventeen patients did not appear to benefit from this supplementation. This preliminary study suggests that pyridoxine might be an effective option across all ages for patients suffering from levetiracetam-induced behavioral side effects.

The Honeymoon Effect in Adult Patients with Refractory Partial-Onset Epilepsy Under Levetiracetam Add-on Treatment

Objectives: Resistance to antiepileptic drugs has occurres in some patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the patients with refractory partial epilepsy who initially responded to levetiracetam (LEV) add-on therapy and who had the seizure frequency return to their baseline after a honeymoon period. Methods: Seven patients with refractory epilepsy, who had transient seizure control with LEV add-on therapy, were included in this study. Age, sex, detailed medical history, epilepsy duration, seizure frequency, concomitant AEDs, time to seizure occurrence after the initiation of LEV, side effects of LEV, cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) data were collected for each patient. Results: Mean age was 26.14±5.14 years. Three patients were male and the other four were female. Mean seizure frequency before LEV treatment was 8.71±5.25 /month. The seizure-free days with levetiracetam add-on therapy was 51-82 days. After the honeymoon effect, seizure frequency returned to the baseline level and did not changed despite an increase in dosage. Cranial MRI was normal in two patients, while interictal EEG was normal in two patients. Conclusion: The resistance to LEV add-on treatment in patients with refractory partial onset seizures may develop, but the honeymoon effect of LEV was longer in our patients when compared to the drug’s literature.

The efficacy and side effects of levetiracetam on refractory epilepsy in children

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of levetiracetam (LEV) add-on therapy in children with refractory epilepsy.Materials and Methods:We evaluated 102 children (56 boys, 46 girls, mean age 96.00 ± 31.15 months) with refractory epilepsy. Patients received LEV as add-on therapy. Changes in seizure frequency and adverse events were observed. Follow-up was conducted at least 6 months after treatment.Results:In total, 46 (45.1%) of the 102 children achieved more than 50% seizure frequency reduction, and 16 (15.6%) of these were seizure free. LEV reduced seizure frequency by at least 50% in 58.3% of patients with partial seizures, in 32.0% of patients with primary generalized seizures, and in 17.6% of patients with both partial and generalized seizures.Conclusion:Our results confirm that LEV, as add-on therapy, was effective in reducing seizure frequency in a variety of seizure types but seems most effective for partial-onset seizures. LEV was also well-tolerated in children.

From levetiracetam to brivaracetam: development of antiepileptic drugs

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder with different etiologies.Despite of many antiepileptic drugs(AEDs) used in clinical treatment,about 30% of the patients have uncontrolled onset,and combined use of different AEDs or new AEDs are needed.The new AEDs should have satisfactory clinical efficacy,tolerability and pharmacokinetic properties,and minimal adverse effects.By now there have been about 20 novel AEDs;most of them are derivatives or analogues of current AEDs.Brivaracetam(BRI) is the derivative of levetiracetam(LEV).This review summarizes the mechanisms of action,pharmacokinetic profiles,tolerability,pharmacology and toxicology,and side effects of LEV and its derivative BRI.