Levetiracetam

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Levetiracetam
Systematic (IUPAC) name
2-(2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl)butanamide
Identifiers
CAS number	102767-28-2
ATC code	N03AX14
PubChem	441341
DrugBank	APRD01068
Chemical data
Formula	C₈H₁₄N₂O₂
Mol. mass	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

Keppra (levetiracetam) Final Printed Label New and Generic Drug Approvals. 29 Dec 1999. Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Accessed 31 August 2005.
SID 7847774 -- PubChem Substance Summary. The PubChem Project. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Retrieved on 7 December 2005.