UMEM Educational Pearls

Title: Levetiracetam (Keppra)

Keywords: anticonvulsant, status epilepticus, keppra (PubMed Search)

Posted: 1/3/2008 by Fermin Barrueto, MD (Updated: 12/6/2023)
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Levetiracetam

A new anticonvulsant that is 100% renally eliminated
Does not require therapeutic drug monitoring like phenytoin
The IV form does not cause skin necrosis or have cardiotoxicity like phenytoin
Is being investigated in benzodiazepine-refracory status epilepticus (1)
Fairly safe drug even in overdose (Barrueto et al ;) )

Knake et al. Intravenous levetriacetam in thetreatment of benzodiazepine-refractory status epilepticus. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2007 Sept 26; Epub