title: Open-label pilot study of levetiracetam (Keppra) for the treatment of levodopa-induced dyskinesias in Parkinson's disease.
abstract: We evaluated the tolerability and preliminary efficacy of levetiracetam (LEV; Keppra) in reducing levodopa-induced dyskinesias in Parkinson's disease (PD) in an open-label pilot study. Nine PD patients who were experiencing peak-dose dyskinesias for at least 25% of the awake day and were at least moderately disabling were treated with LEV in doses up to 3,000 mg for up to 60 days. The primary outcome measure was the percent of the awake day that patients spent on without dyskinesia or with nontroublesome dyskinesia (good on time). The mean dose of LEV at endpoint was 625+/-277 mg/day. LEV significantly improved percent of the awake day on without dyskinesia or with nontroublesome dyskinesia at endpoint compared to baseline (43% +/- 12% vs. 61% +/- 17%; P=0.02). Percent on time with troublesome dyskinesia decreased from 23% +/- 10% at baseline to 11% +/- 6% at endpoint, although not significantly. There was no significant increase in off time from baseline to endpoint. There was a 56% dropout rate, mostly due to somnolence. In PD patients who experienced peak-dose dyskinesia for at least 25% of the awake day, LEV significantly improved on time without dyskinesia or with nontroublesome dyskinesia.
authors.affiliation: Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 336112, USA. tzesiewi@hsc.usf.edu
authors.forename: Theresa A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Zesiewicz
authors.forename: Kelly L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: John L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Maldonado
authors.forename: William O
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Tatum
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Hauser
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004409:Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D007980:Levodopa / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010889:Piracetam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D007980:Levodopa; D010889:Piracetam