Levetiracetam Extended Release as Adjuvant Therapy for the Control of Partial-onset Seizures
Extended release (XR) formulation of levetiracetam (LEV) is approved by the Food and Drug Administration as an add-on to other antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) for adults with partial onset seizures. This is based on class-I evidence demonstrating significant seizure reduction in once daily dosing. Keppra...
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Published in | Journal of Central Nervous System Disease Vol. 2011; no. 3; pp. 17 - 25 |
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Main Authors | , |
Format | Journal Article Book Review |
Language | English |
Published |
London, England
Libertas Academica
01.01.2011
SAGE Publishing SAGE Publications Sage Publications Ltd. (UK) Sage Publications Ltd |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Extended release (XR) formulation of levetiracetam (LEV) is approved by the Food and Drug Administration as an add-on to other antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) for adults with partial onset seizures. This is based on class-I evidence demonstrating significant seizure reduction in once daily dosing. Keppra-XR is marketed with the brand name of Keppra XR since 2008 (UCB Pharma). Its original immediate release (IR) formulation has been in the market since 2000. LEV has a unique molecular structure which is chemically unrelated to existing AEDs. The precise mechanism of action is unknown. Animal studies showed binding to synaptic vesicle protein SV2A, thought to be involved in modulating synaptic neurotransmitter release. LEV-IR is proven effective as adjunctive therapy for partial-onset seizures, primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures and myoclonic seizures. It was shown to be equivalent to carbamazepine as first-line treatment for partial-onset seizures. The extended release formulation added advantages such as better tolerance and increased compliance. |
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Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 |
ISSN: | 1179-5735 1179-5735 |
DOI: | 10.4137/JCNSD.S4126 |