LEVETIRACETAM

Course overview

LEVETIRACETAM IS A NOVEL, ANTIEPILEPTIC DRUG USED IN THE TREATMENT OF PARTIAL SEIZURES, MYOCLONIC SEIZURES, AND TONIC-CLONIC SEIZURES. IN 2000, THE FDA APPROVED THE USE OF THE ORAL FORMULATION AS ADJUNCTIVE THERAPY FOR THE TREATMENT OF FOCAL SEIZURES, MYOCLONIC SEIZURE, AND PRIMARY GENERALIZED SEIZURES. THE FDA APPROVED INTRAVENOUS LEVETIRACETAM IN 2006 FOR USE IN PATIENTS OLDER THAN 15 YEARS, AS ADJUNCTIVE ANTICONVULSANT THERAPY WHEN THE ORAL FORMULATION IS NOT TOLERATED. THIS ACTIVITY COVERS LEVETIRACETAM, INCLUDING MECHANISM OF ACTION, PHARMACOLOGY, ADVERSE EVENT PROFILES, ELIGIBLE PATIENT POPULATIONS, MONITORING, AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN THE MANAGEMENT OF CONDITIONS WHERE LEVETIRACETAM THERAPY IS HELPFUL.