Abstracts

Levetiracetam, as an add-on therapy, has been found to be safe and effective in patients with partial epilepsy. This study seeks to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Levetiracetam in patients with intractable epilepsy and Developmental Disabilities (DD) already tried on 2-3 antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). The charts of 35 patients from the out patient neurology clinic at The Westchester Institute for Human Development were reviewed. These patients were tried on Levetiracetam as add on therapy due to intractable epilepsy or discontinuation of previous antiepileptic drugs due to adverse effects. The patients mostly have mixed seizure disorder. Data was checked 6 months before and 6 months after starting Levetiracetam. There were 18 males and 17 females. Dose of Levetiracetam ranged from 1000-5000mg /day. Age ranged from 19-63 years (mean 43.2years). The level of mental retardation (MR) was borderline-1, moderate-15, severe-7, and profound-12. The number of patients having more than 10 seizures per 6 months was reduced from 14 to 10, and those with less than 10 seizures per 6 months decreased from 18 to 13. Ten patients became seizure free. No improvement in seizures noticed in one patient and one patient was lost to follow up. One patient displayed increased behavior problem at 3250mg/day of Levetiracetam and behavior stabilized on lowering the dose to 3000mg/day. In several patients concomitant AEDs were discontinued. Individuals with DD and refractory mixed seizures benefited significantly from addition of Levetiracetam with minimal side effects.