Levetiracetam in newly diagnosed late-onset post-stroke seizures: a prospective observational study

Epilepsy Res. 2008 Dec;82(2-3):223-6. doi: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2008.08.008. Epub 2008 Sep 30.

Abstract

Levetiracetam (LEV) monotherapy was investigated in 35 patients (pts) (16M/19F, 71.9+/-7.3 years of age) with late-onset post-stroke seizures (i.e. seizures occurring at least 2 weeks after an ischemic stroke) in a prospective open-label study. Overall, 27 pts (77.1%) achieved a condition of seizure freedom (defined as 1 year without seizures): 19 (54.3%) at a daily LEV dose of 1000mg, 7 (20.0%) at 1500mg, 1 (2.8%) at 2000mg. Four pts (11.4%) discontinued the drug because of intolerable side effects (drowsiness associated to gait disturbance in 1 pt, and aggressive behaviour in the remaining 3 pts); 3 pts were unresponsive at a dose of 3000mg, and 1 pt was lost at follow-up. These observations suggest that LEV exhibits safety and efficacy profiles which make it an optimal candidate as a first-choice drug against post-stroke seizures.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aggression / drug effects
  • Anticonvulsants / administration & dosage
  • Anticonvulsants / adverse effects
  • Anticonvulsants / therapeutic use*
  • Brain Ischemia / complications*
  • Cardiovascular Agents / therapeutic use
  • Drug Interactions
  • Epilepsy / drug therapy*
  • Epilepsy / etiology
  • Female
  • Fibrinolytic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Gait Ataxia / chemically induced
  • Humans
  • Levetiracetam
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Piracetam / administration & dosage
  • Piracetam / adverse effects
  • Piracetam / analogs & derivatives*
  • Piracetam / therapeutic use
  • Sleep Stages / drug effects

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants
  • Cardiovascular Agents
  • Fibrinolytic Agents
  • Levetiracetam
  • Piracetam