title: Levetiracetam treatment of idiopathic generalised epilepsy.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA. gkrauss@jhmi.edu
authors: Gregory L
authors: GL
authors: Krauss
authors: Tim
authors: T
authors: Betts
authors: Bassel
authors: B
authors: Abou-Khalil
authors: Gregory
authors: G
authors: Gergey
authors: Helen
authors: H
authors: Yarrow
authors: Akemi
authors: A
authors: Miller
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010889:Piracetam