The efficacy and tolerability of Levetiracetam as an add-on therapy in patients with startle epilepsy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of Levetiracetam as an add-on therapy in patients with startle epilepsy (StEp).


METHODS
Ten (7 males and 3 females) were enrolled in the study. LEV was started at 500mg bid, escalating over 1-2 weeks to maximal doses of 3000mg daily, based on seizure control and tolerance for 13-28 months.


RESULTS
The onset of startle seizures in patients with StEp varied from birth to 11 years. Six in 10 patients gave good responses to the treatment. There were adverse effects in three patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Many AEDs have been used by medically intractable patients with StEp for many years but the results were almost discouraging. It was observed that 60% of the patients gave good response to LEV. Advanced studies are required to indicate the efficiency of LEV which proved to be effective on animals with audiogenic seizures on reflex epilepsies.
Gürses
Candan
C
Department of Neurology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Millet Caddesi Capa 34390, Istanbul, Turkey. candan.gurses@gmail.com
Alpay
Kadriye
K
Ciftçi
Farah Diba
FD
Bebek
Nerses
N
Baykan
Betül
B
Gökyiğit
Ayşen
A
D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D020195:Epilepsy, Reflex / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008297:Male; D010889:Piracetam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010889:Piracetam