Levetiracetam

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Levetiracetam
Systematic (IUPAC) name
2-(2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl)butanamide
Identifiers
CAS number	102767-28-2
ATC code	N03 AX14
PubChem	441341
DrugBank	APRD01068
Chemical data
Formula	C₈H₁₄N₂O₂
Mol. weight	170.209 g/mol
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	100%
Metabolism	Renal
Half life	6-8 hours
Excretion	Renal
Therapeutic considerations
Licence data	EU US
Pregnancy cat.	C(US)
Legal status	℞-only(US)
Routes	Oral

Levetiracetam (INN) (IPA: [lɛvətɪˈræsəˌtæm]) is an anticonvulsant medication used to treat epilepsy. It is S- enantiomer of etiracetam, structurally similar to the prototypical nootropic drug piracetam. Along with other anticonvulsants like gabapentin, it is also sometimes used to treat neuropathic pain. Levetiracetam is marketed under the trade name Keppra.

Levetiracetam has recently been approved in the United Kingdom as a monotherapy treatment for epilepsy.

1 Side effects
2 References
3 External links
4 See also

[edit] Side effects

Side effects include: ataxia (sudden loss of balance); hair loss; pins and needles sensation in the extremities; psychiatric symptoms ranging from irritability to depression; and other common side effects like headache and nausea. Recent literature[1] (and paper 2.163 in [2]) suggests that the addition of pyridoxine (vitamin B6) may curtail some of the psychiatric symptoms. Care should be taken not to exceed maximum recommended upper intake level (UL) dosages.[3],[4]

[edit] References

The adverse events most frequently reported with the use of KEPPRA in combination with other AEDs, not seen at an equivalent frequency among placebotreated patients, were somnolence, accidental injury, hostility, nervousness, and asthenia. In well-controlled adult clinical studies, 15.0% of patients receiving KEPPRA and 11.6% receiving placebo either discontinued or had a dose reduction as a result of an adverse event.