The Usefulness of Levetiracetam in the Treatment of Epilepsy -Investigation of 119 Cases-

Abstract

We investigated the effects, adverse effects, and rate of discontinuation of seizures after 3 months of administration of levetiracetam in 119 patients with epilepsy who visited the Department of Neuropsychiatry, Aichi Medical University and Aichi Medical University Medical Clinic. The rate of discontinuation was 10.1%. In comparing rates of seizure frequency between the 3 months before and after administration and excluding patients who discontinued levetiracetam, disappearance of seizure occurred in 31.8%, <50% reduction in seizures in 71.0%, no change in 23.4%, and increase in seizures in 5.6% of patients. Adverse effects occurred in 24.4% of patients and included drowsiness, fatigue, irritability, dizziness, cold symptoms, and insomnia. Follow-up studies were conducted in 62 patients at 6 months and in 49 patients at 1 year. There were no cases of discontinuation caused by adverse effects after 3 months of administration, five cases of self-discontinuation, and one case of discontinuation due to insufficient effect. The continuation rate after 1 year was 76.6%. This study revealed that levetiracetam had a high rate of seizure inhibition and high tolerability and that levetiracetam was a very effective agent in the treatment of epilepsy.