Efficacy and tolerability of levetiracetam in Parkinson disease patients with levodopa-induced dyskinesia.
OBJECTIVE
This open-label study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of levetiracetam for levodopa-induced dyskinesia and its effect on motor functioning and quality of life in Parkinson disease (PD) patients.


METHODS
PD patients with moderate to severe dyskinesia were enrolled in the study. PD medications were unchanged during the study, and levetiracetam was slowly titrated up to a maximum dosage of 3,000 mg/d over a 2-month period.


RESULTS
There were 9 patients with a mean age of 65 years and mean disease duration of 13 years. Forty-four percent of the subjects withdrew before the end of the study due to adverse events, primarily worsening of PD symptoms and sleepiness. Of the remaining 5 subjects, 1 subject continued levetiracetam after the study with mild improvement in dyskinesia and 4 discontinued levetiracetam due to worsening of PD symptoms and sleepiness.


CONCLUSIONS
Levetiracetam is not well tolerated in PD patients with levodopa-induced dyskinesia resulting in worsening of PD symptoms, intolerable somnolence, and worsening of dyskinesia in most patients.
Lyons
Kelly E
KE
Department of Neurology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, 66160, USA. lyons.kelly@att.net
Pahwa
Rajesh
R
D000368:Aged; D004409:Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; 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* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D010889:Piracetam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000077287:Levetiracetam; D007980:Levodopa; D010889:Piracetam