Catatonia induced by levetiracetam.
Levetiracetam (Keppra) is a novel antiepileptic drug approved as adjunctive treatment for adults with partial onset seizures. Although the drug is generally well tolerated, behavioral side effects have been reported in variable frequency. Most behavioral problems are mild in nature (agitation, hostility, anxiety, emotional lability, apathy, depression) and quickly resolve with discontinuation of medication. However, serious psychiatric adverse events may also occur with rare cases of psychosis and suicidal behavior. We report here the case of a 43-year-old woman who developed symptoms compatible with catatonia after being exposed to levetiracetam for the treatment of epilepsy. To our knowledge, it is the first reported case of catatonia induced by levetiracetam. We review the difficulties that may be encountered in the differential diagnosis of medical catatonia.
Chouinard
Marie-Josée
MJ
Department of Psychiatry and Neurology, CHUM Hôpital Notre Dame, 1560 rue Sherbrooke Est, Montréal (Québec), Canada H2L 4M1.
Nguyen
Dang-Khoa
DK
Clément
Jean-François
JF
Bruneau
Marie-Andrée
MA
D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002389:Catatonia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010259:Paranoid Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D010889:Piracetam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018967:Risperidone / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D018967:Risperidone; D010889:Piracetam