Nausea levetiracetam

Levetiracetam is a piracetam derivative used in the treatment of refractory partial seizures. In trials it has shown an excellent tolerability profile. The main dose-related adverse effects are sedation, fatigue, and headache. Other possible adverse effects include dizziness, unsteadiness, diplopia, nausea, infection, memory impairment, and disturbances of mood and behavior, although in controlled trials the incidence of most of these was no greater than with placebo (1). 

Drug formulations Extended-release levetiracetam Once-daily extended-release levetiracetam as add-on therapy in relractory partial-onset seizures has been evaluated in a 12 week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in 158 patients [204. There were adverse events in 41 (53%) of those who used extended-release leve-tira-cetam and in 43 (54%) of those who used placebo the most common were somnolence, influenza, irritability, nasopharyngitis, dizziness, and nausea. 

In a retrospective analysis of 36 patients who received intravenous levetiracetam for refractory status epilepticus [209 ] a median dose of 3000 mg/day (range 1000-9000) was used as a loading bolus or by continuous pump infusion. Status epilepticus was terminated in 69% of patients. None had cardiac dysrhythmias or significantly reduced blood pressure, or required an increase in the dose of catecholamines. Two patients had nausea and vomiting during levetiracetam loading, leading to aspiration pneumonia in one. 

Urinary tract A 69-year-old woman developed biopsy-proven acute granulomatous interstitial nephritis while on levetiracetam 1000 mg/day. She made a complete recovery after cessation of the levetiracetam [103 ]. A 45-year-old man similarly developed interstitial nephritis with intractable nausea and vomiting while taking levetiracetam for seizures in the setting of a low grade glioma. The medication was changed and his renal function rapidly improved to his baseline [104 ]. 

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