Levetiracetam side effects

Side effects. Detailed safety studies show that levetiracetam is well tolerated, the most frequent side effects reported being somnolence, asthenia and dizziness. To date, levetiracetam would appear to be a highly effective new antiepileptic drug with an excellent safety and tolerability profile. Few drug interactions have been reported so far. The efficacy and safety of the drug have been established as add-on therapy for refractory partial onset seizures with or without secondary generalization and there is now evidence of its efficacy in monotherapy. 

Levetiracetam. Levetiracetam is a new anticonvulsant agent that does not as yet present any drug interactions. Dizziness and somnolence occurred to a statistically significant extent (14.8% versus 8.4% of the placebo patients) (18). This side effect occurred more frequently with patients receiving levetiracetam in combination with other anticonvulsant agents. 

Major P, Greenberg E, Khan A, Thiele EA. Pyridoxine supplementation for the treatment of levetiracetam-induced behavior side effects in children preliminary results. Epilepsy Behav 2008 13(3) 557-9. 

A study of the efficacy and tolerability of levetiracetam in patients with intractable epilepsy in Israel reported no side effects in 62% of participants. Irritability and impulsiveness occurred in 26.9%. Physical side effects including primarily fatigue and astiienia occurred in 16% [88 ]. 

Heknstaedter C, Mihov Y, Toliat MR, Thiele H, Nuernberg P, Schoch S, et al. Genetic variation in dopaminergic activity is associated with the risk for psychiatric side effects of levetiracetam. Epilepsia January 2013 54(l) 36-44. 

---