OBJECTIVE:

Levetiracetam (LEV) is a novel antiepileptic drug. According to the previous studies, LEV is a broad spectrum antiepileptic agent with a wide margin of safety. In this study, patients with epilepsy, who were receiving LEV as add on treatment, were evaluated and the results were reported.

METHODS:

Sixty-six patients with refractory epilepsy, who were receiving LEV as add on treatment in our epilepsy department, were evaluated retrospectively.

RESULTS:

Age range was 16-74. Twenty three (34.9%) of them were female and the remaining 43 (65.1%) of them were male. The mean follow up duration of patient was 15.5 month, while dosage was between 1000-3000 mg/day. In the evaluation of 66 patients with refractory epilepsy, 28 (42.4%) of them were seizure free, 8 (12.1%) of them had reduction of seizure frequency between 75-99%, 7 (10.6%) of them had decrease in seizure frequency between 50-74%, 8 (12.1%) had ceasing of them at least 49%. In addition to these findings, 8 (12.1%) patients had no change in seizure frequency and four (6.1%) patients had aggrevation of seizures. In these cases,two of them had seizure free at the first 50 and 54 days of treatment and then seizure was continued just like prior to LEV treatment. Seizure frequency of three patients could not been evaluated. Twelve (18.2%) patients had side effects in relation to LEV (sedation, agitation, allergic reactions, seizure aggrevation). LEV treatment was discontinued among seven (10.6%) of them.

CONCLUSION:

LEV was well tolerated, safety and effective alternative treatment in patients with refractory epilepsy. However, further studies including long term of LEV treatment were necessary. Seizure aggrevation during LEV treatment should be kept in mind.

Keywords: Levetiracetam, add on treatment, epilepsy, antiepileptic drugs