levetiracetam and Angioedema

Recent adverse event reports have raised the question of increased angioedema risk associated with exposure to levetiracetam. To help address this question, the Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics research network conducted a retrospective observational new-user cohort study of seizure patients exposed to levetiracetam (n = 276,665) across 10 databases. With phenytoin users (n = 74,682) as a comparator group, propensity score-matching was conducted and hazard ratios computed for angioedema events by per-protocol and intent-to-treat analyses. Angioedema events were rare in both the levetiracetam and phenytoin groups (54 vs. 71 in per-protocol and 248 vs. 435 in intent-to-treat). No significant increase in angioedema risk with levetiracetam was seen in any individual database (hazard ratios ranging from 0.43 to 1.31). Meta-analysis showed a summary hazard ratio of 0.72 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.39-1.31) and 0.64 (95% CI 0.52-0.79) for the per-protocol and intent-to-treat analyses, respectively. The results suggest that levetiracetam has the same or lower risk for angioedema than phenytoin, which does not currently carry a labeled warning for angioedema. Further studies are warranted to evaluate angioedema risk across all antiepileptic drugs.

Topics: Angioedema; Community Networks; Databases, Factual; Epilepsy; Female; Humans; Levetiracetam; Male; Phenytoin; Piracetam

Allergic reactions to antiepileptic drugs in the form of skin rash are not uncommon but angioedema, an acute life threatening reaction is rare. Angioedema has been reported with the use of oxcarbazepine and carbamazepine. We report a case of a 33-year-old woman with focal epilepsy who developed angioedema following levetiracetam monotherapy. The patient had previous skin rashes with both phenytoin and lamotrigine. Levetiracetam was stopped and she improved after treatment with norepinephrine, antihistamines and corticosteroids.

Topics: Adult; Angioedema; Anticonvulsants; Exanthema; Female; Humans; Lamotrigine; Levetiracetam; Phenytoin; Piracetam; Triazines

Case reports suggest lacosamide may have a role in status epilepticus (SE). The purpose of this case series is to describe the use of lacosamide in refractory SE (RSE) at our institution.. Observational study of all patients admitted to the neurosciences intensive care unit with RSE who received at least one dose of lacosamide from October 2009 to September 2010.. Nine patients received lacosamide after failure of at least two other agents. Lacosamide was started a median of 2 days (range: 0-14 days) after the onset of SE. The most frequently used dosing regimen was an initial intravenous dose of 200 mg followed by 200 mg every 12 h. Most patients had received 3 (range: 2-5) AEDs prior to lacosamide. Levetiracetam was used prior to lacosamide in all cases. No patients evaluated responded to lacosamide according to our predefined criteria. One patient developed angioedema after receiving two doses; another patient developed angioedema where timing in relation to the lacosamide was unclear. Care was withdrawn in three of the nine patients for reasons unrelated to lacosamide. Lacosamide was continued at discharge on all surviving patients except in one case of angioedema.. This is the largest case series to date describing the use of lacosamide in patients with RSE. Despite the novel mechanism of action, we observed no evidence that lacosamide is effective in RSE; however, our sample size was small. Further study is needed to determine the role of lacosamide in SE, especially early in the treatment course.

Topics: Acetamides; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Angioedema; Anticonvulsants; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Eruptions; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Humans; Infusions, Intravenous; Intensive Care Units; Lacosamide; Levetiracetam; Male; Middle Aged; Piracetam; Status Epilepticus