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High‐dose intravenous levetiracetam for acute seizure exacerbation in children with intractable epilepsy
Author(s) -
DepositarioCabacar Dewi T.,
Peters Jurriaan M.,
Pong Amanda W.,
Roth Julie,
Rotenberg Alexander,
Riviello James J.,
Takeoka Masanori
Publication year - 2010
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.1528-1167.2010.02519.x
Subject(s) - levetiracetam , exacerbation , epilepsy , intractable epilepsy , medicine , anesthesia , pediatrics , psychiatry
Summary We review our experience with high‐dose intravenous levetiracetam (IV‐LEV) for acute seizure exacerbations in nine children with medically intractable epilepsy. All children had acute repetitive seizures—while on chronic antiepileptic drugs—that either led to hospitalization (eight) or occurred during hospitalization (one), and received doses of IV‐LEV of 150 mg/kg/day or greater, with a mean dose of 228 ± 48 mg/kg/day. Eight of nine children had resolution of the acute repetitive seizures. Seizure frequency was reduced to less than baseline in seven children (seizure‐free in two, ≥80% reduction in four, and 50% reduction in one). Except for one child with increased seizures, IV‐LEV was well tolerated in all children without complications.