Levetiracetam

Levetiracetam (INN) (pronounced /lɛvɨtɪˈræsɨtæm/) is an anticonvulsant medication used to treat epilepsy. It is S- enantiomer of etiracetam, structurally similar to the prototypical nootropic drug piracetam. Along with other anticonvulsants like gabapentin, it is also sometimes used to treat neuropathic pain. Levetiracetam is marketed under the trade name Keppra. Keppra is manufactured by UCB Pharmaceuticals Inc.

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Levetiracetam has recently been approved in the United Kingdom as a monotherapy treatment for epilepsy. It is also used in veterinary medicine for similar purposes.

Side effects

Side effects include: ataxia (sudden loss of balance); hair loss; pins and needles sensation in the extremities; psychiatric symptoms ranging from irritability to depression; and other common side effects like headache and nausea. Recent literature[1] (and paper 2.163 in [2]) suggests that the addition of pyridoxine (vitamin B6) may curtail some of the psychiatric symptoms.

References

• Keppra (levetiracetam) Final Printed Label New and Generic Drug Approvals. 29 Dec 1999. Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Accessed 31 August 2005.
• SID 7847774 -- PubChem Substance Summary. The PubChem Project. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Retrieved on 7 December, 2005.

See also

• Racetams