Premium
Effects of Levetiracetam on Nocturnal Sleep and Daytime Vigilance in Healthy Volunteers
Author(s) -
Cicolin Alessandro,
Magliola Umberto,
Giordano Alessandra,
Terreni Anna,
Bucca Caterina,
Mutani Roberto
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
epilepsia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.687
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1528-1167
pISSN - 0013-9580
DOI - 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2006.00376.x
Subject(s) - multiple sleep latency test , vigilance (psychology) , epworth sleepiness scale , non rapid eye movement sleep , anesthesia , polysomnography , epilepsy , slow wave sleep , psychology , levetiracetam , crossover study , sleep onset , medicine , sleep stages , ictal , excessive daytime sleepiness , audiology , placebo , sleep disorder , apnea , electroencephalography , insomnia , psychiatry , neuroscience , alternative medicine , pathology
Summary: Purpose: Individuals with epilepsy commonly report daytime sleepiness, attributed to sleep disruption (frequent arousals, awakenings, and stage shifts) induced by ictal and interictal activity or antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) or both. To study the effect of levetiracetam (LEV) on sleep, at full doses but without the interference of epilepsy, we investigated the sleep architecture and daytime vigilance in healthy adults after 3 weeks of treatment. Methods: The study was of a double‐blind crossover design with random allocation of multiple doses of two different treatments (randomly first LEV ≤2,000 mg/day or placebo for 3 weeks, washout for 4 weeks, and then the alternative treatment for another 3 weeks). Fourteen healthy volunteers were studied with polysomnography (PSG) and the Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT). Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and sleep log also were evaluated. Results: After treatment with LEV, statistically significant increases were observed in total sleep time, sleep efficiency, and time spent in non–rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep stages 2 and 4. Stage shifts and wake after sleep onset were significantly decreased. Sleep latency was normal at PSG and MSLT in all subjects and did not statistically differ between placebo and LEV. No changes were found in the ESS. Conclusions: Our findings show that in healthy volunteers, LEV consolidates sleep and does not modify vigilance, two appreciated qualities in epilepsy patients with sleep disturbance and daytime sleepiness.