Rapid dosage titration of levetiracetam in children.
OBJECTIVE
To report our experience with rapid titration of levetiracetam regimens in children and adolescents who were unresponsive to or intolerant of other antiepileptic drugs.


METHODS
A retrospective chart review was performed to identify patients with childhood epilepsy who underwent a rapid titration to full doses of levetiracetam in 2 weeks or less. Data regarding demographics, disease characteristics, previous use of antiepileptics, levetiracetam dosage titration schedule, and clinical outcomes were collected and analyzed.


RESULTS
Eight children (seven girls, one boy) aged 19 months-17 years were identified. The levetiracetam dosage was titrated to full maintenance doses over 2-14 days (mean 10 days). All patients demonstrated greater than 50% reduction in seizure frequency, with six patients (75%) becoming seizure free. Only one patient experienced a clinically significant adverse event.


CONCLUSIONS
Rapid dosage titration of levetiracetam is feasible and well tolerated in children who require rapid escalation to therapeutic doses.
Vaisleib
Inna I
II
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Child Neurology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA. Inna.Vaisleib@chp.edu
Neft
Robyn A
RA
D000293:Adolescent; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003710:Demography; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010889:Piracetam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010889:Piracetam