Clinical Information

Levetiracetam is approved for treatment of partial, myoclonic, and tonic-clonic seizures and is used off-label for manic states and migraine prophylaxis. Levetiracetam has very favorable pharmacokinetics with good bioavailability and rapid achievement of steady state. Its hepatic metabolism is minimal and nonoxidative, making it safe for use with hepatic enzyme inducers or inhibitors. The major metabolite is a carboxylic acid derivate, which is inactive and accounts for roughly one quarter of the administered dose. Levetiracetam is excreted renally, with a mean half-life of 7 hours in adults and slightly less than that in children. Kidney dysfunction may warrant therapeutic monitoring and/or dose adjustment.

Given the lack of drug interactions and favorable pharmacokinetics, the primary uses for therapeutic drug monitoring of levetiracetam are compliance assurance and management of physiological changes such as puberty, pregnancy, and aging. Toxicities associated with levetiracetam use include decreased hematocrit and red blood cell count, decreased neutrophil count, somnolence, asthenia, and dizziness. These toxicities may be associated with blood concentrations in the therapeutic range.