TY - JOUR
T1 - Use of levetiracetam in a population of patients aged 65 years and older
T2 - A subset analysis of the KEEPER trial
AU - Ferrendelli, James A.
AU - French, J.
AU - Leppik, I.
AU - Morrell, M. J.
AU - Herbeuval, A.
AU - Han, J.
AU - Magnus, L.
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was funded by UCB Pharma, Inc.
PY - 2003/12
Y1 - 2003/12
N2 - Levetiracetam (Keppra) was evaluated in a subset of patients aged ≥65 years (n = 78) enrolled in a large (n = 1030) open-label, phase IV trial (the KEEPER trial). A 4-week dose adjustment was followed by a 12-week evaluation period. An overall median reduction in partial seizures of 80.1% (n = 65) was observed. Overall, 76.9% of patients were ≥50% responders, 56.9% were ≥75% responders, and 40.0% were 100% responders. Levetiracetam was well tolerated, with 42.3% of patients reporting one or more adverse events. A total of 15 patients (19.2%) experienced an adverse event that led to discontinuation. Somnolence (n = 13, 16.7%) and dizziness (n = 7, 9.0%) were the most commonly reported adverse events. Despite the limitations of the open-label study design, these data provide information regarding the use of levetiracetam as add-on therapy for the treatment of partial-onset seizures in patients ≥65 years of age, including those requiring concomitant medications.
AB - Levetiracetam (Keppra) was evaluated in a subset of patients aged ≥65 years (n = 78) enrolled in a large (n = 1030) open-label, phase IV trial (the KEEPER trial). A 4-week dose adjustment was followed by a 12-week evaluation period. An overall median reduction in partial seizures of 80.1% (n = 65) was observed. Overall, 76.9% of patients were ≥50% responders, 56.9% were ≥75% responders, and 40.0% were 100% responders. Levetiracetam was well tolerated, with 42.3% of patients reporting one or more adverse events. A total of 15 patients (19.2%) experienced an adverse event that led to discontinuation. Somnolence (n = 13, 16.7%) and dizziness (n = 7, 9.0%) were the most commonly reported adverse events. Despite the limitations of the open-label study design, these data provide information regarding the use of levetiracetam as add-on therapy for the treatment of partial-onset seizures in patients ≥65 years of age, including those requiring concomitant medications.
KW - Antiepileptic
KW - Elderly
KW - Levetiracetam
KW - Seizures
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0347418143&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0347418143&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.yebeh.2003.09.007
DO - 10.1016/j.yebeh.2003.09.007
M3 - Article
C2 - 14698704
AN - SCOPUS:0347418143
SN - 1525-5050
VL - 4
SP - 702
EP - 709
JO - Epilepsy and Behavior
JF - Epilepsy and Behavior
IS - 6
ER -