• Michel Baulac, Martin J Brodie, Christian E Elger, Karsten Krakow, Armel Stockis, Paul Meyvisch, and Ursula Falter.
• Hôpital de la Pitié Salpêtrière, Service de Neurologie 1, Paris, France. baulac@psl.ap-hop-paris.fr
• Epilepsia. 2007 Mar 1; 48 (3): 589-92.

PurposeThis multicenter, open-label study evaluated the short-term tolerability of intravenously (IV)-infused levetiracetam (LEV; 500-1,500 mg/100 ml, 15 min, b.i.d.) as a substitute for the same oral dose.MethodsThe study consisted of screening, 4-day IV LEV and 1-7 days of follow-up, and was conducted in 25 adults with partial-onset seizures receiving adjunctive oral LEV.ResultsDuring the 4-day IV LEV, 11 (44%) subjects experienced at least one treatment-emergent adverse event (TEAE), with headache and fatigue being the most frequently reported. Five (20%) subjects experienced TEAEs considered to be related to the study drug. The tolerability profile was consistent with that of oral LEV, with all events judged mild or moderate in severity, no discontinuations, and no serious AEs or deaths reported. No AE related to seizure worsening was reported during IV LEV or brief follow-up.ConclusionsLEV IV appears to be a well-tolerated, practical alternative in patients with partial-onset seizures temporarily unable to take the drug orally.

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