Levetiracetam treatment of idiopathic generalised epilepsy.
Levetiracetam (LEV) is effective for treating localisation-related epilepsy, but it is uncertain whether it is effective for treating idiopathic generalised epilepsy. We compared 12-week baseline and LEV treatment periods for patients with generalised seizure types-myoclonic, tonic-clonic and absence seizures--who had failed other anticonvulsants. The majority of 55 patients (76%) had >50% seizure reduction with LEV therapy, 40% became seizure-free; 15% discontinued LEV due to adverse events, mostly sedation. This is preliminary evidence that LEV is effective for treating idiopathic generalised epilepsy.
Krauss
Gregory L
GL
Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA. gkrauss@jhmi.edu
Betts
Tim
T
Abou-Khalil
Bassel
B
Gergey
Gregory
G
Yarrow
Helen
H
Miller
Akemi
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004829:Epilepsy, Generalized / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010889:Piracetam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010889:Piracetam