Use of levetiracetam in treating epilepsy associated with other medical conditions.
OBJECTIVE
This prospective, open-label study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness, tolerability, and safety of levetiracetam in patients with epilepsy in whom unfavorable metabolism, complex drug interactions, or direct toxic effects of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) had caused a worsening of comorbid conditions.


METHODS
Study design included the introduction of levetiracetam, discontinuation of other AEDs, and a serial assessment comprising electroencephalograms and blood tests at baseline and 2, 6, and 12 months. Of 21 patients, 16 had partial and five generalized epilepsy. Concomitant pathologies were gastroenterological (six), vascular (four), endocrinological (four), or complex conditions including hematological (four) or dermatological (three) disease. A change of regimen was necessitated by drug-drug interactions in four patients, direct real or potential toxic effects of previous AEDs in 13, and a combination of interactions/toxic effects in four.


RESULTS
After 12 months, 12 patients were seizure-free, nine had reductions in seizure frequency of 50-75%, and improvement in concomitant medical conditions was observed. No side effects were reported.


CONCLUSIONS
Levetiracetam appears to be effective, well tolerated, and safe in patients with epilepsy and other medical conditions that are difficult to manage because of drug interactions or AED-related side effects.
Di Bonaventura
C
C
Department of Neurological Sciences, Rome, Italy. c.dibonaventura@yahoo.it
Mari
F
F
Fattouch
J
J
Egeo
G
G
Vaudano
A E
AE
Manfredi
M
M
Prencipe
M
M
Giallonardo
A T
AT
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004829:Epilepsy, Generalized / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010889:Piracetam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019338:Polypharmacy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010889:Piracetam