Overdose with levetiracetam: a case report and review of the literature.
OBJECTIVE
Levetiracetam is an anticonvulsant agent that was first approved for use in the United States in 1999 and has a maximum recommended adult dose of 3000 mg daily. It has been noted to have a relatively mild adverse effect profile, with the most common side effects being somnolence, asthenia, infection, and dizziness. Although it has been widely prescribed, there have been few reports on the safety of this agent in overdose.


METHODS
We present the case of a 49-year-old man who ingested over 22 500 mg of levetiracetam in a suicide attempt. The patient arrived at the Emergency Department 6·5 h after the ingestion and was noted to have no significant sequelae from the ingestion. Based on the patient's weight, he ingested 358 mg/kg of levetiracetam.


CONCLUSIONS
The few cases of levetiracetam overdose reported in the literature were associated with relatively mild, if any, symptoms. However, one patient who overdosed on levetiracetam became obtunded and developed significant respiratory distress that required intubation and ventilatory support. Therefore, clinical vigilance is still required in the cases of levetiracetam overdose.
Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, USA.
T M
TM
Larkin
A N
AN
Cohen-Oram
G
G
Catalano
M C
MC
Catalano
D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000506:poisoning*; D062787:Drug Overdose; D006801:Humans; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010889:Piracetam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000506:poisoning; D013406:Suicide, Attempted
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010889:Piracetam