Levetiracetam: Treatment for Epilepsy

Course overview

Levetiracetam is a second-generation anticonvulsant that has labeled uses and is prescribed off-label as a monotherapy or adjunctive therapy for certain types of partial, myoclonic, and generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Epilepsy is a brain disorder. Not all epileptic patients respond to initial therapy, and there can be a number of epileptic patients who remain refractory to medical treatment, leading to long-term antiepileptic drug therapy. Levetiracetam differs from other anticonvulsant drugs in that it is primarily excreted by the kidneys, has less burden on the liver, and has fewer reported incidents of serious side effects. Levetiracetam has a novel mechanism within the brain. Levetiracetam has risks and benefits that must be considered when prescribing it to epileptic patients.