Levetiracetam as add-on therapy in generalised epilepsies

Kumar, S. Pradeep and Smith, Philip E. M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4250-2562 2004. Levetiracetam as add-on therapy in generalised epilepsies. Seizure 13 (7) , pp. 475-477. 10.1016/j.seizure.2003.06.001

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Abstract

Levetiracetam is highly effective as add-on treatment in refractory partial-onset seizures but there are only limited data supporting its benefit in generalised epilepsies. We have reviewed the clinical records of 25 consecutive adult patients with generalised epilepsies (84% females; mean age 34 (range 16-75) years) prescribed levetiracetam for at least six months. The epilepsy was considered idiopathic in 22 patients (88%)--including 13 with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy--and symptomatic in three. Most patients (68%) reported some improvement in seizure frequency on levetiracetam including 16% who became seizure free. Levetiracetam was generally well tolerated although 11/25 (44%) of patients reported some tiredness, weight change or rash. Levetiracetam was stopped in five patients, four because of side effects and one though lack of efficacy. In four cases, pre-existing antiepileptic medication was withdrawn, leaving levetiracetam as monotherapy. We conclude that levetiracetam is a useful add-on treatment for patients with refractory generalised epilepsies.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Medicine Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute (NMHRI)
Subjects:	R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
Publisher:	Elsevier
ISSN:	1059-1311
Last Modified:	31 Oct 2022 10:07
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/83735

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