Levetiracetam for partial seizures: results of a double-blind, randomized clinical trial.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of 500 mg bid and 1500 mg bid levetiracetam as adjunctive therapy for refractory partial seizures in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multicenter trial. METHODS: The authors studied patients with uncontrolled partial seizures (minimum 12 per 12 weeks), regardless of whether they became secondarily generalized, for 38 weeks. A 12-week baseline was followed by random assignment to adjunctive therapy with placebo (n = 95), levetiracetam 1000 mg/day (n = 98), or levetiracetam 3000 mg/day (n = 101). Upward titration over 4 weeks was followed by 14 weeks of fixed dose treatment, and concluded with an 8-week medication withdrawal period or entering a follow-up study. RESULTS: Of 294 patients randomized, 268 completed the study. Partial seizure frequency during the entire evaluation period (primary efficacy variable) was lower with levetiracetam compared to placebo (p /=10%), mostly mild to moderate in severity, with incidences higher than placebo were asthenia, dizziness, flu syndrome, headache, infection, rhinitis, and somnolence. CONCLUSION: Adjunctive therapy with levetiracetam was effective and well tolerated in controlling partial seizures.
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Related Subject Headings
- Treatment Outcome
- Piracetam
- Neurology & Neurosurgery
- Middle Aged
- Male
- Levetiracetam
- Humans
- Female
- Epilepsies, Partial
- Electroencephalography
Citation
Published In
DOI
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Treatment Outcome
- Piracetam
- Neurology & Neurosurgery
- Middle Aged
- Male
- Levetiracetam
- Humans
- Female
- Epilepsies, Partial
- Electroencephalography