Date - 12 January 2005

Source- Drugs in Context 2004; 1C(6): Frovatriptan - Migraine p224

Author - Dr Eleanor Bull

Levetiracetam is a novel anti-epileptic drug (AED) licensed as adjunctive therapy for the treatment of partial-onset seizures with or without secondary generalisation in patients with epilepsy. Although the exact mechanism of action of levetiracetam has yet to be fully established, it is believed to be unique in that it does not resemble the mechanisms of other AEDs in current clinical use. Synaptic vesicle protein 2A (SV2A) has recently been identified as the central binding site for levetiracetam. In animal models, levetiracetam appears to act selectively against abnormal patterns of neuronal activity and displays some anti-epileptogenic properties. Owing to its linear pharmacokinetics and its limited drug interaction profile, levetiracetam can be administered concurrently with other AEDs without the need for dosage adjustment. In clinical studies, levetiracetam has been shown to be significantly more effective than placebo at reducing the frequency of seizures, with levetiracetam-treated patients displaying significantly higher clinical responses than those treated with placebo. A number of patients have achieved complete freedom from seizures following levetiracetam therapy, whilst the anti-epileptic efficacy of levetiracetam is sustained over many months of treatment. Levetiracetam is well tolerated across a number of patient groups, including the elderly and those with mental disabilities.

Keywords: Levetiracetam, Epilepsy