Abstracts

Psychiatric and Behavioral Issues of Perampanel with Concomitant Levetiracetam in Pediatric Epilepsy

Abstract number : 2.255
Submission category : 7. Anti-seizure Medications / 7D. Drug Side Effects
Year : 2022
Submission ID : 2204269
Source : www.aesnet.org
Presentation date : 12/4/2022 12:00:00 PM
Published date : Nov 22, 2022, 05:24 AM

Authors :
Hyewon Woo, MD – Chungbuk National University Hospital; Jon Soo Kim, MD, PhD – Pediatric Neurology – Chungbuk National University Hospital; Won Seop Kim, MD, PhD – Pediatric Neurology – Chungbuk National University Hospital

Rationale: The goal of pharmacotherapy for epilepsy is freedom from seizures without bothersome adverse events (AEs). Patients treated with perampanel (PER) have experienced greater rates of irritability and aggression-related AEs. These AEs have also been observed with levetiracetam (LEV). We investigated the occurrence of irritability and aggression-related AEs among adolescents receiving PER therapy with concomitant LEV.

Methods: Children between 12 and 18 years old who were treated with PER as an adjunctive treatment were included. Patients were subdivided into groups with and without LEV as concomitant treatment. We retrospectively reviewed their clinical records.

Results: A total of 26 outpatient patients (18 boys, 8 girls; mean age 14.1 ± 1.0 years) were included. Mean duration of epilepsy and follow up were 7.4 years and 17.0 months, retrospectively. Eighteen patients (69.2%) treated PER with LEV. Nine patients had a history of psychiatric illness such as autism spectrum disorder. Treatment-related AEs occurred in 15 patients (57.7%); irritability or aggression (34.6%), drowsiness (15.4%). Psychiatric AEs were present in 3 patients (37.5%) without LEV group and 6 patients (33.3%) with LEV group. Most of whom showed a rapid decrease in psychiatric AEs when PER or LEV dosage was reduced but only 2 patients with LEV group were discontinued.

Conclusions: The present results suggest that PER is well tolerated as an adjunctive therapy, including concomitant use with LEV. Further investigations to confirm this preliminary evidence are needed.

Funding: None
Anti-seizure Medications