Specific effect of levetiracetam in experimental human pain models.
BACKGROUND
Levetiracetam is a new antiepileptic drug. There is only limited experience with levetiracetam in clinical neuropathic pain.


OBJECTIVE
To test the analgesic effect of levetiracetam in a human experimental pain model in order to obtain preclinical evidence for its potential effect in neuropathic pain.


METHODS
Sixteen healthy volunteers completed a randomized, double-blind, cross-over trial with a single oral dose of 1500 mg levetiracetam against placebo. Pain tests included pain detection and tolerance to single electrical stimulation and temporal pain summation threshold to repetitive electrical stimulation (3 Hz) of the sural nerve.


RESULTS
Levetiracetam significantly increased the pain tolerance thresholds (p=0.04), and the pain detection thresholds tended to be increased (p=0.06), whereas levetiracetam had no effect on temporal pain summation thresholds (p=0.30).


CONCLUSIONS
Levetiracetam has an analgesic effect in the electrical sural nerve stimulation pain model, but it did not increase temporal pain summation threshold. Levetiracetam may still be effective in clinical neuropathic pain.
Enggaard
Thomas P
TP
Institute of Public Health, Clinical Pharmacology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense University, Winslowparken 19, DK-5000 Odense C, Denmark. t-enggaard@dadlnet.dk
Klitgaard
Niels A
NA
Sindrup
Søren H
SH
D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008297:Male; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000187:drug effects; D010889:Piracetam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D013497:Sural Nerve
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010889:Piracetam