Effect of levetiracetam in patients with epilepsy and interictal epileptiform discharges
(2001) Seizure - European Journal of Epilepsy — Vol. 10, n° 8, p. 583-587 (2001)
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- Abstract
- The effect of acute treatment with the new antiepileptic drug (AED) levetiracetam (Keppra(R)) on the frequency of interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) was evaluated in a double- blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study with therapeutic drug monitoring and serial electroencephalographic (EEG) observations. Acute (500 mg twice daily) and chronic (individualized, 500-1000 mg twice daily) doses of levetiracetam were administered as an add-on to current AED treatment. Efficacy was tested by measuring the frequency of IEDs in EEG recordings and the number of seizures. A single acute dose of levetiracetam induced a reduction of IEDs in eight out of ten patients. During the acute phase, an insufficient number of seizures occurred for analysis. During chronic treatment over 8 weeks, seven patients showed a reduction in seizure frequency (responder rate), and one patient remained seizure free. No correlation was seen between levetiracetam levels and IED frequency. Doses of levetiracetam of up to 2000 mg/day were well tolerated, and no interactions were seen with concomitant AEDs. (C) 2001 BEA Trading Ltd.
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Stodieck, S., Steinhoff, B. J., Kolmsee, S., & Van Rijckevorsel, G. (2001). Effect of levetiracetam in patients with epilepsy and interictal epileptiform discharges. Seizure - European Journal of Epilepsy, 10(8), 583-587. https://doi.org/10.1053/seiz.2001.0582 (Original work published 2001)