Effects of levetiracetam on nocturnal sleep and daytime vigilance in healthy volunteers.
OBJECTIVE
Individuals with epilepsy commonly report daytime sleepiness, attributed to sleep disruption (frequent arousals, awakenings, and stage shifts) induced by ictal and interictal activity or antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) or both. To study the effect of levetiracetam (LEV) on sleep, at full doses but without the interference of epilepsy, we investigated the sleep architecture and daytime vigilance in healthy adults after 3 weeks of treatment.


METHODS
The study was of a double-blind crossover design with random allocation of multiple doses of two different treatments (randomly first LEV <or=2,000 mg/day or placebo for 3 weeks, washout for 4 weeks, and then the alternative treatment for another 3 weeks). Fourteen healthy volunteers were studied with polysomnography (PSG) and the Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT). Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and sleep log also were evaluated.


RESULTS
After treatment with LEV, statistically significant increases were observed in total sleep time, sleep efficiency, and time spent in non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep stages 2 and 4. Stage shifts and wake after sleep onset were significantly decreased. Sleep latency was normal at PSG and MSLT in all subjects and did not statistically differ between placebo and LEV. No changes were found in the ESS.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings show that in healthy volunteers, LEV consolidates sleep and does not modify vigilance, two appreciated qualities in epilepsy patients with sleep disturbance and daytime sleepiness.
Cicolin
Alessandro
A
Sleep Disorder Center, Department of Neurosciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy. alessandro.cicolin@unito.it
Magliola
Umberto
U
Giordano
Alessandra
A
Terreni
Anna
A
Bucca
Caterina
C
Mutani
Roberto
R
D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008297:Male; D010889:Piracetam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010919:Placebos; D017286:Polysomnography / Q000187:drug effects; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects*; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D010919:Placebos; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010889:Piracetam