About The Drug Levetiracetam aka Keppra
Find Levetiracetam side effects, uses, warnings, interactions and indications. Levetiracetam is also known as Keppra.
Levetiracetam
About Levetiracetam aka Keppra |
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What's The Definition Of The Medical Condition Levetiracetam?Clinical Pharmacology CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY Mechanism Of Action The precise mechanism(s) by which levetiracetam exerts its antiepileptic effect is unknown.
The antiepileptic activity of levetiracetam was assessed in a number of animal models of epileptic seizures.
Levetiracetam did not inhibit single seizures induced by maximal stimulation with electrical current or different chemoconvulsants and showed only minimal activity in submaximal stimulation and in threshold tests.
Protection was observed, however, against secondarily generalized activity from focal seizures induced by pilocarpine and kainic acid, two chemoconvulsants that induce seizures that mimic some features of human complex partial seizures with secondary generalization.
Levetiracetam also displayed inhibitory properties in the kindling model in rats, another model of human complex partial seizures, both during kindling development and in the fully kindled state.
The predictive value of these animal models for specific types of human epilepsy is uncertain.
In vitro and in vivo recordings of epileptiform activity from the hippocampus have shown that levetiracetam inhibits burst firing without affecting normal neuronal excitability, suggesting that levetiracetam may selectively prevent hypersynchronization of epileptiform burst firing and propagation of seizure activity.
Levetiracetam at concentrations of up to 10 μM did not demonstrate binding affinity for a variety of known receptors, such as those associated with benzodiazepines, GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), glycine, NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate), re-uptake sites, and second messenger systems.
Furthermore, in vitro studies have failed to find an effect of levetiracetam on neuronal voltage-gated sodium or T-type calcium currents and levetiracetam does not appear to directly facilitate GABAergic neurotransmission.
However, in vitro studies have demonstrated that levetiracetam opposes the activity of negative modulators of GABA- and glycine-gated currents and partially inhibits N-type calcium currents in neuronal cells.
A saturable and stereoselective neuronal binding site in rat brain tissue has been described for levetiracetam.
Experimental data indicate that this binding site is the synaptic vesicle protein SV2A, thought to be involved in the regulation of vesicle exocytosis.
Although the molecular significance of levetiracetam binding to SV2A is not understood, levetiracetam and related analogs showed a rank order of affinity for SV2A which correlated with the potency of their antiseizure activity in audiogenic seizure-prone mice.
These findings suggest that the interaction of levetiracetam with the SV2A protein may contribute to the antiepileptic mechanism of action of the drug.
Pharmacodynamics Effects on QTc Interval The effect of levetiracetam on QTc prolongation was evaluated in a randomized, double-blind, positive-controlled (moxifloxacin 400 mg) and placebo-controlled crossover study of levetiracetam (1,000 mg or 5,000 mg) in 52 healthy subjects.
The upper bound of the 90% confidence interval for the largest placebo-adjusted, baseline-corrected QTc was below 10 milliseconds.
Therefore, there was no evidence of significant QTc prolongation in this study.
Pharmacokinetics Absorption And Distribution Absorption of levetiracetam is rapid, with peak plasma concentrations occurring in about an hour following oral administration in fasted subjects.
The oral bioavailability of levetiracetam tablets is 100% and the tablets and oral solution are bioequivalent in rate and extent of absorption.
Food does not affect the extent of absorption of levetiracetam but it decreases Cmax by 20% and delays Tmax by 1.5 hours.
The pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam are linear over the dose range of 500-5,000 mg.
Steady state is achieved after 2 days of multiple twice-daily dosing.
Levetiracetam and its major metabolite are less than 10% bound to plasma proteins; clinically significant interactions with other drugs through competition for protein binding sites are therefore unlikely.
Metabolism Levetiracetam is not extensively metabolized in humans.
The major metabolic pathway is the enzymatic hydrolysis of the acetamide group, which produces the carboxylic acid metabolite, ucb L057 (24% of dose) and is not dependent on any liver cytochrome P450 isoenzymes.
The major metabolite is inactive in animal seizure models.
Two minor metabolites were identified as the product of hydroxylation of the 2-oxo-pyrrolidine ring (2% of dose) and opening of the 2-oxo-pyrrolidine ring in position 5 (1% of dose).
There is no enantiomeric interconversion of levetiracetam or its major metabolite.
Elimination Levetiracetam plasma half-life in adults is 7 ± 1 hour and is unaffected by either dose or repeated administration.
Levetiracetam is eliminated from the systemic circulation by renal excretion as unchanged drug which represents 66% of administered dose.
The total body clearance is 0.96 mL/min/kg and the renal clearance is 0.6 mL/min/kg.
The mechanism of excretion is glomerular filtration with subsequent partial tubular reabsorption.
The metabolite ucb L057 is excreted by glomerular filtration and active tubular secretion with a renal clearance of 4 mL/min/kg.
Levetiracetam elimination is correlated to creatinine clearance.
Levetiracetam clearance is reduced in patients with renal impairment [see Use In Specific Populations and DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Specific Populations Elderly Pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam were evaluated in 16 elderly subjects (age 61-88 years) with creatinine clearance ranging from 30 to 74 mL/min.
Following oral administration of twice-daily dosing for 10 days, total body clearance decreased by 38% and the half-life was 2.5 hours longer in the elderly compared to healthy adults.
This is most likely due to the decrease in renal function in these subjects.
Pediatric Patients Pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam were evaluated in 24 pediatric patients (age 6-12 years) after single dose (20 mg/kg).
The body weight adjusted apparent clearance of levetiracetam was approximately 40% higher than in adults.
A repeat dose pharmacokinetic study was conducted in pediatric patients (age 4-12 years) at doses of 20 mg/kg/day, 40 mg/kg/day, and 60 mg/kg/day.
The evaluation of the pharmacokinetic profile of levetiracetam and its metabolite (ucb L057) in 14 pediatric patients demonstrated rapid absorption of levetiracetam at all doses with a Tmax of about 1 hour and a t1/2 of 5 hours across the three dosing levels.
The pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam in children was linear between 20 to 60 mg/kg/day.
The potential interaction of levetiracetam with other AEDs was also evaluated in these patients.
Levetiracetam had no significant effect on the plasma concentrations of carbamazepine, valproic acid, topiramate or lamotrigine.
However, there was about a 22% increase of apparent clearance of levetiracetam when it was co-administered with an enzyme-inducing AED (e.g.
carbamazepine).
Following single dose administration (20 mg/kg) of a 10% oral solution to children with epilepsy (1 month to < 4 years), levetiracetam was rapidly absorbed and peak plasma concentrations were observed approximately 1 hour after dosing.
The pharmacokinetic results indicated that half-life was shorter (5.3 h) than for adults (7.2 h) and apparent clearance was faster (1.5 mL/min/kg) than for adults (0.96 mL/min/kg).
Population pharmacokinetic analysis showed that body weight was significantly correlated to the clearance of levetiracetam in pediatric patients; clearance increased with an increase in body weight.
Pregnancy Levetiracetam levels may decrease during pregnancy.
Gender Levetiracetam Cmax and AUC were 20% higher in women (N=11) compared to men (N=12).
However, clearances adjusted for body weight were comparable.
Race Formal pharmacokinetic studies of the effects of race have not been conducted.
Cross-study comparisons involving Caucasians (N=12) and Asians (N=12), however, show that pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam were comparable between the two races.
Because levetiracetam is primarily renally excreted and there are no important racial differences in creatinine clearance, pharmacokinetic differences due to race are not expected.
Renal Impairment The disposition of levetiracetam was studied in adult subjects with varying degrees of renal function.
Total body clearance of levetiracetam is reduced in patients with impaired renal function by 40% in the mild group (CLcr = 50-80 mL/min), 50% in the moderate group (CLcr = 30-50 mL/min) and 60% in the severe renal impairment group (CLcr <30 mL/min).
Clearance of levetiracetam is correlated with creatinine clearance.
In anuric (end stage renal disease) patients, the total body clearance decreased 70% compared to normal subjects (CLcr >80 mL/min).
Approximately 50% of the pool of levetiracetam in the body is removed during a standard 4- hour hemodialysis procedure [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Hepatic Impairment In subjects with mild (Child-Pugh A) to moderate (Child-Pugh B) hepatic impairment, the pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam were unchanged.
In patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh C), total body clearance was 50% that of normal subjects, but decreased renal clearance accounted for most of the decrease.
No dose adjustment is needed for patients with hepatic impairment.
Drug Interactions In vitro data on metabolic interactions indicate that levetiracetam is unlikely to produce, or be subject to, pharmacokinetic interactions.
Levetiracetam and its major metabolite, at concentrations well above Cmax levels achieved within the therapeutic dose range, are neither inhibitors of, nor high affinity substrates for, human liver cytochrome P450 isoforms, epoxide hydrolase or UDP-glucuronidation enzymes.
In addition, levetiracetam does not affect the in vitro glucuronidation of valproic acid.
Potential pharmacokinetic interactions of or with levetiracetam were assessed in clinical pharmacokinetic studies (phenytoin, valproate, warfarin, digoxin, oral contraceptive, probenecid) and through pharmacokinetic screening in the placebo-controlled clinical studies in epilepsy patients.
Phenytoin Levetiracetam (3,000 mg daily) had no effect on the pharmacokinetic disposition of phenytoin in patients with refractory epilepsy.
Pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam were also not affected by phenytoin.
Valproate Levetiracetam (1,500 mg twice daily) did not alter the pharmacokinetics of valproate in healthy volunteers.
Valproate 500 mg twice daily did not modify the rate or extent of levetiracetam absorption or its plasma clearance or urinary excretion.
There also was no effect on exposure to and the excretion of the primary metabolite, ucb L057.
Other Antiepileptic Drugs Potential drug interactions between levetiracetam and other AEDs (carbamazepine, gabapentin, lamotrigine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone and valproate) were also assessed by evaluating the serum concentrations of levetiracetam and these AEDs during placebo-controlled clinical studies.
These data indicate that levetiracetam does not influence the plasma concentration of other AEDs and that these AEDs do not influence the pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam.
Effect Of AEDs In Pediatric Patients There was about a 22% increase of apparent total body clearance of levetiracetam when it was co-administered with enzyme-inducing AEDs.
Dose adjustment is not recommended.
Levetiracetam had no effect on plasma concentrations of carbamazepine, valproate, topiramate, or lamotrigine.
Oral Contraceptives Levetiracetam (500 mg twice daily) did not influence the pharmacokinetics of an oral contraceptive containing 0.03 mg ethinyl estradiol and 0.15 mg levonorgestrel, or of the luteinizing hormone and progesterone levels, indicating that impairment of contraceptive efficacy is unlikely.
Coadministration of this oral contraceptive did not influence the pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam.
Digoxin Levetiracetam (1,000 mg twice daily) did not influence the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (ECG) of digoxin given as a 0.25 mg dose every day.
Coadministration of digoxin did not influence the pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam.
Warfarin Levetiracetam (1,000 mg twice daily) did not influence the pharmacokinetics of R and S warfarin.
Prothrombin time was not affected by levetiracetam.
Coadministration of warfarin did not affect the pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam.
Probenecid Probenecid, a renal tubular secretion blocking agent, administered at a dose of 500 mg four times a day, did not change the pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam 1,000 mg twice daily.
Cssmax of the metabolite, ucb L057, was approximately doubled in the presence of probenecid while the fraction of drug excreted unchanged in the urine remained the same.
Renal clearance of ucb L057 in the presence of probenecid decreased 60%, probably related to competitive inhibition of tubular secretion of ucb L057.
The effect of levetiracetam on probenecid was not studied.
Clinical Studies Partial Onset Seizures Effectiveness In Partial Onset Seizures In Adults With Epilepsy The effectiveness of levetiracetam as adjunctive therapy (added to other antiepileptic drugs) in adults was established in three multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical studies in patients who had refractory partial onset seizures with or without secondary generalization.
The tablet formulation was used in all these studies.
In these studies, 904 patients were randomized to placebo, 1,000 mg, 2,000 mg, or 3,000 mg/day.
Patients enrolled in Study 1 or Study 2 had refractory partial onset seizures for at least two years and had taken two or more classical AEDs.
Patients enrolled in Study 3 had refractory partial onset seizures for at least 1 year and had taken one classical AED.
At the time of the study, patients were taking a stable dose regimen of at least one and could take a maximum of two AEDs.
During the baseline period, patients had to have experienced at least two partial onset seizures during each 4-week period.
Study 1 Study 1 was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study conducted at 41 sites in the United States comparing levetiracetam 1,000 mg/day (N=97), levetiracetam 3,000 mg/day (N=101), and placebo (N=95) given in equally divided doses twice daily.
After a prospective baseline period of 12 weeks, patients were randomized to one of the three treatment groups described above.
The 18-week treatment period consisted of a 6-week titration period, followed by a 12-week fixed dose evaluation period, during which concomitant AED regimens were held constant.
The primary measure of effectiveness was a between group comparison of the percent reduction in weekly partial seizure frequency relative to placebo over the entire randomized treatment period (titration + evaluation period).
Secondary outcome variables included the responder rate (incidence of patients with ≥50% reduction from baseline in partial onset seizure frequency).
The results of the analysis of Study 1 are displayed in Table 10.
Table 10: Reduction in Mean Over Placebo in Weekly Frequency of Partial Onset Seizures in Study 1 Placebo (N=95) Levetiracetam 1,000 mg/day (N=97) Levetiracetam 3,000 mg/day (N=101) Percent reduction in partial seizure frequency over placebo - 26.1%* 30.1%* *statistically significant versus placebo The percentage of patients (y-axis) who achieved ≥50% reduction in weekly seizure rates from baseline in partial onset seizure frequency over the entire randomized treatment period (titration + evaluation period) within the three treatment groups (x-axis) is presented in Figure 1.
Figure 1: Responder Rate (≥50% Reduction from Baseline) in Study 1 *statistically significant versus placebo Study 2 Study 2 was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study conducted at 62 centers in Europe comparing levetiracetam 1,000 mg/day (N=106), levetiracetam 2,000 mg/day (N=105), and placebo (N=111) given in equally divided doses twice daily.
The first period of the study (Period A) was designed to be analyzed as a parallel-group study.
After a prospective baseline period of up to 12 weeks, patients were randomized to one of the three treatment groups described above.
The 16-week treatment period consisted of the 4-week titration period followed by a 12-week fixed dose evaluation period, during which concomitant AED regimens were held constant.
The primary measure of effectiveness was a between group comparison of the percent reduction in weekly partial seizure frequency relative to placebo over the entire randomized treatment period (titration + evaluation period).
Secondary outcome variables included the responder rate (incidence of patients with ≥50% reduction from baseline in partial onset seizure frequency).
The results of the analysis of Period A are displayed in Table 11.
Table 11: Reduction in Mean Over Placebo in Weekly Frequency of Partial Onset Seizures in Study 2: Period A Placebo (N=111) Levetiracetam 1,000 mg/day (N=106) Levetiracetam 2,000 mg/day (N=105) Percent reduction in partial seizure frequency over placebo - 17.1%* 21.4%* *statistically significant versus placebo The percentage of patients (y-axis) who achieved ≥50% reduction in weekly seizure rates from baseline in partial onset seizure frequency over the entire randomized treatment period (titration + evaluation period) within the three treatment groups (x-axis) is presented in Figure 2.
Figure 2: Responder Rate (≥50% Reduction from Baseline) in Study 2: Period A *statistically significant versus placebo The comparison of levetiracetam 2,000 mg/day to levetiracetam 1,000 mg/day for responder rate was statistically significant (P=0.02).
Analysis of the trial as a cross-over yielded similar results.
Study 3 Study 3 was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study conducted at 47 centers in Europe comparing levetiracetam 3,000 mg/day (N=180) and placebo (N=104) in patients with refractory partial onset seizures, with or without secondary generalization, receiving only one concomitant AED.
Study drug was given in two divided doses.
After a prospective baseline period of 12 weeks, patients were randomized to one of two treatment groups described above.
The 16-week treatment period consisted of a 4-week titration period, followed by a 12-week fixed dose evaluation period, during which concomitant AED doses were held constant.
The primary measure of effectiveness was a between group comparison of the percent reduction in weekly seizure frequency relative to placebo over the entire randomized treatment period (titration + evaluation period).
Secondary outcome variables included the responder rate (incidence of patients with ≥50% reduction from baseline in partial onset seizure frequency).
Table 12 displays the results of the analysis of Study 3.
Table 12: Reduction in Mean Over Placebo in Weekly Frequency of Partial Onset Seizures in Study 3 Placebo (N=104) Levetiracetam 3,000 mg/day (N=180) Percent reduction in partial seizure frequency over placebo - 23.0%* *statistically significant versus placebo The percentage of patients (y-axis) who achieved ≥50% reduction in weekly seizure rates from baseline in partial onset seizure frequency over the entire randomized treatment period (titration + evaluation period) within the two treatment groups (x-axis) is presented in Figure 3.
Figure 3: Responder Rate (≥50% Reduction from Baseline) in Study 3 *statistically significant versus placebo Effectiveness In Partial Onset Seizures In Pediatric Patients 4 Years To 16 Years With Epilepsy The effectiveness of levetiracetam as adjunctive therapy (added to other antiepileptic drugs) in pediatric patients was established in one multicenter, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study (Study 4), conducted at 60 sites in North America, in pediatric patients 4 to 16 years of age with partial seizures uncontrolled by standard antiepileptic drugs (AEDs).
Eligible patients on a stable dose of 1-2 AEDs, who still experienced at least 4 partial onset seizures during the 4 weeks prior to screening, as well as at least 4 partial onset seizures in each of the two 4-week baseline periods, were randomized to receive either levetiracetam or placebo.
The enrolled population included 198 patients (levetiracetam N=101, placebo N=97) with refractory partial onset seizures, whether or not secondarily generalized.
The study consisted of an 8-week baseline period and 4-week titration period followed by a 10-week evaluation period.
Dosing was initiated at a dose of 20 mg/kg/day in two divided doses.
During the treatment period, levetiracetam doses were adjusted in 20 mg/kg/day increments, at 2-week intervals to the target dose of 60 mg/kg/day.
The primary measure of effectiveness was a between group comparison of the percent reduction in weekly partial seizure frequency relative to placebo over the entire 14-week randomized treatment period (titration + evaluation period).
Secondary outcome variables included the responder rate (incidence of patients with ≥ 50% reduction from baseline in partial onset seizure frequency per week).
Table 13 displays the results of this study.
Table 13: Reduction in Mean Over Placebo in Weekly Frequency of Partial Onset Seizures in Study 4 Placebo (N=97) Levetiracetam (N=101) Percent reduction in partial seizure frequency over placebo - 26.8%* *statistically significant versus placebo The percentage of patients (y-axis) who achieved ≥ 50% reduction in weekly seizure rates from baseline in partial onset seizure frequency over the entire randomized treatment period (titration + evaluation period) within the two treatment groups (x-axis) is presented in Figure 4.
Figure 4: Responder Rate (≥ 50% Reduction from Baseline) in Study 4 *statistically significant versus placebo Effectiveness In Partial Onset Seizures In Pediatric Patients 1 Month To <4 Years With Epilepsy The effectiveness of levetiracetam as adjunctive therapy in pediatric patients was established in one multicenter, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study (Study 5), conducted at 62 sites in North America, South America, and Europe in pediatric patients 1 month to less than 4 years of age with partial seizures, uncontrolled by standard epileptic drugs (AEDs).
Eligible patients on a stable dose of 1-2 AEDs, who experienced at least 2 partial onset seizures during the 48-hour baseline video EEG were randomized to receive either levetiracetam or placebo.
The enrolled population included 116 patients (levetiracetam N=60, placebo N=56) with refractory partial onset seizures, whether or not secondarily generalized.
Randomization was stratified by age range as follows: 1 month to less than 6 months of age (N=4 treated with levetiracetam), 6 months to less than 1 year of age (N=8 treated with levetiracetam), 1 year to less than 2 years of age (N=20 treated with levetiracetam), and 2 years to less than 4 years of age (N=28 treated with levetiracetam).
The study consisted of a 5-day evaluation period which included a 1-day titration period followed by a 4-day maintenance period.
Levetiracetam dosing was determined by age and weight as follows: children 1 month to less than 6 months old were randomized to a target dose of 40 mg/kg/day, and children 6 months to less than 4 years old were randomized to a target dose of 50 mg/kg/day.
The primary measure of effectiveness was the responder rate (percent of patients with ≥ 50% reduction from baseline in average daily partial onset seizure frequency) assessed by a blinded central reader using a 48-hour video EEG performed during the last two days of the 4-day maintenance period.
A total of 109 patients were included in the efficacy analysis.
A statistically significant difference between levetiracetam and placebo was observed (see Figure 5).
The treatment effect associated with levetiracetam was consistent across age groups.
Figure 5: Responder Rate for All Patients Ages 1 Month to < 4 Years (≥ 50% Reduction from Baseline) in Study 5 *statistically significant versus placebo Myoclonic Seizures In Patients With Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy Effectiveness Of Myoclonic Seizures In Patients ≥12 Years Of Age With Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy (JME) The effectiveness of levetiracetam as adjunctive therapy (added to other antiepileptic drugs) in patients 12 years of age and older with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) experiencing myoclonic seizures was established in one multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (Study 6), conducted at 37 sites in 14 countries.
Of the 120 patients enrolled, 113 had a diagnosis of confirmed or suspected JME.
Eligible patients on a stable dose of 1 antiepileptic drug (AED) experiencing one or more myoclonic seizures per day for at least 8 days during the prospective 8-week baseline period were randomized to either levetiracetam or placebo (levetiracetam N=60, placebo N=60).
Patients were titrated over 4 weeks to a target dose of 3,000 mg/day and treated at a stable dose of 3,000 mg/day over 12 weeks (evaluation period).
Study drug was given in 2 divided doses.
The primary measure of effectiveness was the proportion of patients with at least 50% reduction in the number of days per week with one or more myoclonic seizures during the treatment period (titration + evaluation periods) as compared to baseline.
Table 14 displays the results for the 113 patients with JME in this study.
Table 14: Responder Rate (≥50% Reduction from Baseline) in Myoclonic Seizure Days per Week for Patients with JME in Study 6 Placebo (N=59) Levetiracetam (N=54) Percentage of responders 23.7% 60.4%* *statistically significant versus placebo Primary Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures Effectiveness In Primary Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures In Patients ≥6 Years Of Age The effectiveness of levetiracetam as adjunctive therapy (added to other antiepileptic drugs) in patients 6 years of age and older with idiopathic generalized epilepsy experiencing primary generalized tonic-clonic (PGTC) seizures was established in one multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (Study 7), conducted at 50 sites in 8 countries.
Eligible patients on a stable dose of 1 or 2 antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) experiencing at least 3 PGTC seizures during the 8-week combined baseline period (at least one PGTC seizure during the 4 weeks prior to the prospective baseline period and at least one PGTC seizure during the 4-week prospective baseline period) were randomized to either levetiracetam or placebo.
The 8-week combined baseline period is referred to as “baseline” in the remainder of this section.
Patients were titrated over 4 weeks to a target dose of 3,000 mg/day for adults or a pediatric target dose of 60 mg/kg/day and treated at a stable dose of 3,000 mg/day (or 60 mg/kg/day for children) over 20 weeks (evaluation period).
Study drug was given in 2 equally divided doses per day.
The primary measure of effectiveness was the percent reduction from baseline in weekly PGTC seizure frequency for levetiracetam and placebo treatment groups over the treatment period (titration + evaluation periods).
The population included 164 patients (levetiracetam N=80, placebo N=84) with idiopathic generalized epilepsy (predominately juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, juvenile absence epilepsy, childhood absence epilepsy, or epilepsy with Grand Mal seizures on awakening) experiencing primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures.
Each of these syndromes of idiopathic generalized epilepsy was well represented in this patient population.
There was a statistically significant decrease from baseline in PGTC frequency in the levetiracetam-treated patients compared to the placebo-treated patients.
Table 15: Median Percent Reduction from Baseline in PGTC Seizure Frequency per Week in Study 7 Placebo (N=84) Levetiracetam (N=78) Percent reduction in PGTC seizure frequency 44.6% 77.6%* *statistically significant versus placebo The percentage of patients (y-axis) who achieved ≥50% reduction in weekly seizure rates from baseline in PGTC seizure frequency over the entire randomized treatment period (titration + evaluation period) within the two treatment groups (x-axis) is presented in Figure 6.
Figure 6: Responder Rate (≥50% Reduction from Baseline) in PGTC Seizure Frequency per Week in Study 7 *statistically significant versus placebo
Clinical Pharmacology CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY Mechanism Of Action The precise mechanism(s) by which levetiracetam exerts its antiepileptic effect is unknown.
The antiepileptic activity of levetiracetam was assessed in a number of animal models of epileptic seizures.
Levetiracetam did not inhibit single seizures induced by maximal stimulation with electrical current or different chemoconvulsants and showed only minimal activity in submaximal stimulation and in threshold tests.
Protection was observed, however, against secondarily generalized activity from focal seizures induced by pilocarpine and kainic acid, two chemoconvulsants that induce seizures that mimic some features of human complex partial seizures with secondary generalization.
Levetiracetam also displayed inhibitory properties in the kindling model in rats, another model of human complex partial seizures, both during kindling development and in the fully kindled state.
The predictive value of these animal models for specific types of human epilepsy is uncertain.
In vitro and in vivo recordings of epileptiform activity from the hippocampus have shown that levetiracetam inhibits burst firing without affecting normal neuronal excitability, suggesting that levetiracetam may selectively prevent hypersynchronization of epileptiform burst firing and propagation of seizure activity.
Levetiracetam at concentrations of up to 10 μM did not demonstrate binding affinity for a variety of known receptors, such as those associated with benzodiazepines, GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), glycine, NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate), re-uptake sites, and second messenger systems.
Furthermore, in vitro studies have failed to find an effect of levetiracetam on neuronal voltage-gated sodium or Ttype calcium currents and levetiracetam does not appear to directly facilitate GABAergic neurotransmission.
However, in vitro studies have demonstrated that levetiracetam opposes the activity of negative modulators of GABA- and glycine-gated currents and partially inhibits N-type calcium currents in neuronal cells.
A saturable and stereoselective neuronal binding site in rat brain tissue has been described for levetiracetam.
Experimental data indicate that this binding site is the synaptic vesicle protein SV2A, thought to be involved in the regulation of vesicle exocytosis.
Although the molecular significance of levetiracetam binding to synaptic vesicle protein SV2A is not understood, levetiracetam and related analogs showed a rank order of affinity for SV2A which correlated with the potency of their antiseizure activity in audiogenic seizure-prone mice.
These findings suggest that the interaction of levetiracetam with the SV2A protein may contribute to the antiepileptic mechanism of action of the drug.
Pharmacodynamics Effects On QTc Interval The effect of levetiracetam on QTc prolongation was evaluated in a randomized, double-blind, positive-controlled (moxifloxacin 400 mg) and placebo-controlled crossover study of levetiracetam (1000 mg or 5000 mg) in 52 healthy subjects.
The upper bound of the 90% confidence interval for the largest placebo-adjusted, baseline-corrected QTc was below 10 milliseconds.
Therefore, there was no evidence of significant QTc prolongation in this study.
Pharmacokinetics Equivalent doses of intravenous (IV) levetiracetam and oral levetiracetam result in equivalent Cmax, Cmin, and total systemic exposure to levetiracetam when the IV levetiracetam is administered as a 15- minute infusion.
The pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam have been studied in healthy adult subjects, adults and pediatric patients with epilepsy, elderly subjects, and subjects with renal and hepatic impairment.
Overview Levetiracetam is rapidly and almost completely absorbed after oral administration.
Levetiracetam injection and tablets are bioequivalent.
The pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam are linear and timeinvariant, with low intra- and inter-subject variability.
Levetiracetam is not significantly protein-bound ( < 10% bound) and its volume of distribution is close to the volume of intracellular and extracellular water.
Sixty-six percent (66%) of the dose is renally excreted unchanged.
The major metabolic pathway of levetiracetam (24% of dose) is an enzymatic hydrolysis of the acetamide group.
It is not liver cytochrome P450 dependent.
The metabolites have no known pharmacological activity and are renally excreted.
Plasma half-life of levetiracetam across studies is approximately 6-8 hours.
It is increased in the elderly (primarily due to impaired renal clearance) and in subjects with renal impairment.
Distribution The equivalence of levetiracetam injection and the oral formulation was demonstrated in a bioavailability study of 17 healthy volunteers.
In this study, levetiracetam 1500 mg was diluted in 100 mL 0.9% sterile saline solution and was infused over 15 minutes.
The selected infusion rate provided plasma concentrations of levetiracetam at the end of the infusion period similar to those achieved at Tmax after an equivalent oral dose.
It is demonstrated that levetiracetam 1500 mg intravenous infusion is equivalent to levetiracetam 3 x 500 mg oral tablets.
The time independent pharmacokinetic profile of levetiracetam was demonstrated following 1500 mg intravenous infusion for 4 days with BID dosing.
The AUC(0-12) at steady-state was equivalent to AUCinf following an equivalent single dose.
Levetiracetam and its major metabolite are less than 10% bound to plasma proteins; clinically significant interactions with other drugs through competition for protein binding sites are therefore unlikely.
Metabolism Levetiracetam is not extensively metabolized in humans.
The major metabolic pathway is the enzymatic hydrolysis of the acetamide group, which produces the carboxylic acid metabolite, ucb L057 (24% of dose) and is not dependent on any liver cytochrome P450 isoenzymes.
The major metabolite is inactive in animal seizure models.
Two minor metabolites were identified as the product of hydroxylation of the 2-oxo-pyrrolidine ring (2% of dose) and opening of the 2-oxo-pyrrolidine ring in position 5 (1% of dose).
There is no enantiomeric interconversion of levetiracetam or its major metabolite.
Elimination Levetiracetam plasma half-life in adults is 7 ± 1 hour and is unaffected by either dose, route of administration or repeated administration.
Levetiracetam is eliminated from the systemic circulation by renal excretion as unchanged drug which represents 66% of administered dose.
The total body clearance is 0.96 mL/min/kg and the renal clearance is 0.6 mL/min/kg.
The mechanism of excretion is glomerular filtration with subsequent partial tubular reabsorption.
The metabolite ucb L057 is excreted by glomerular filtration and active tubular secretion with a renal clearance of 4 mL/min/kg.
Levetiracetam elimination is correlated to creatinine clearance.
Levetiracetam clearance is reduced in patients with renal impairment [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION and Use In Specific Populations].
Specific Populations Elderly Pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam were evaluated in 16 elderly subjects (age 61-88 years) with creatinine clearance ranging from 30 to 74 mL/min.
Following oral administration of twice-daily dosing for 10 days, total body clearance decreased by 38% and the half-life was 2.5 hours longer in the elderly compared to healthy adults.
This is most likely due to the decrease in renal function in these subjects.
Pediatric Patients Intravenous Formulation: A population pharmacokinetic analysis for the intravenous formulation was conducted in 49 pediatric patients (1 month to < 16 years of age) weighing 3-79 kg.
Patients received levetiracetam as a 15-minute IV infusion at doses between 14 mg/kg/day and 60 mg/kg/day twice daily.
Plasma concentrations and model derived steady-state exposure AUC (0-12) were within the range of the exposure observed in pediatric patients receiving equivalent doses of the oral solution.
Oral Formulations: Pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam were evaluated in 24 pediatric patients (age 6-12 years) after single oral dose (20 mg/kg) of the immediate release formulation of levetiracetam.
The body weight adjusted apparent clearance of levetiracetam was approximately 40% higher than in adults.
A repeat dose pharmacokinetic study was conducted in pediatric patients (age 4-12 years) at doses of 20 mg/kg/day, 40 mg/kg/day, and 60 mg/kg/day of the immediate release formulation of levetiracetam.
The evaluation of the pharmacokinetic profile of levetiracetam and its metabolite (ucb L057) in 14 pediatric patients demonstrated rapid absorption of levetiracetam at all doses, with a Tmax of about 1 hour and a t½ of 5 hours across all dosing levels.
The pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam in pediatric patients was linear between 20 to 60 mg/kg/day.
The potential interaction of levetiracetam with other AEDs was also evaluated in these patients.
Levetiracetam had no significant effect on the plasma concentrations of carbamazepine, valproic acid, topiramate or lamotrigine.
However, there was about a 22% increase of apparent clearance of levetiracetam when it was co-administered with an enzyme-inducing AED (e.g., carbamazepine).
Following single dose administration (20 mg/kg) of a 10% oral solution to pediatric patients with epilepsy (1 month to < 4 years), levetiracetam was rapidly absorbed and peak plasma concentrations were observed approximately 1 hour after dosing.
Levetiracetam half-life in pediatric patients 1 month to < 4 years with epilepsy was shorter (5.3 h) than in adults (7.2 h), and apparent clearance (1.5 mL/min/kg) was faster than in adults (0.96 mL/min/kg).
Population pharmacokinetic analysis showed that body weight was significantly correlated to the clearance of levetiracetam in pediatric patients; clearance increased with an increase in body weight.
Pregnancy Levetiracetam levels may decrease during pregnancy.
Gender Levetiracetam C and AUC were 20% higher in women (N=11) compared to men (N=12).
However, clearances adjusted for body weight were comparable.
Race Formal pharmacokinetic studies of the effects of race have not been conducted.
Cross-study comparisons involving Caucasians (N=12) and Asians (N=12), however, show that pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam were comparable between the two races.
Because levetiracetam is primarily renally excreted and there are no important racial differences in creatinine clearance, pharmacokinetic differences due to race are not expected.
Renal Impairment The disposition of levetiracetam was studied in adult subjects with varying degrees of renal function.
Total body clearance of levetiracetam is reduced in patients with impaired renal function by 40% in the mild group (CLcr = 50-80 mL/min), 50% in the moderate group (CLcr = 30-50 mL/min) and 60% in the severe renal impairment group (CLcr < 30 mL/min).
Clearance of levetiracetam is correlated with creatinine clearance.
In anuric (end stage renal disease) patients, the total body clearance decreased 70% compared to normal subjects (CLcr > 80mL/min).
Approximately 50% of the pool of levetiracetam in the body is removed during a standard 4 hour hemodialysis procedure [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Hepatic Impairment In subjects with mild (Child-Pugh A) to moderate (Child-Pugh B) hepatic impairment, the pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam were unchanged.
In patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child- Pugh C), total body clearance was 50% that of normal subjects, but decreased renal clearance accounted for most of the decrease.
No dose adjustment is needed for patients with hepatic impairment.
Drug Interactions In vitro data on metabolic interactions indicate that levetiracetam is unlikely to produce, or be subject to, pharmacokinetic interactions.
Levetiracetam and its major metabolite, at concentrations well above Cmax levels achieved within the therapeutic dose range, are neither inhibitors of, nor high affinity substrates for, human liver cytochrome P450 isoforms, epoxide hydrolase or UDP-glucuronidation enzymes.
In addition, levetiracetam does not affect the in vitro glucuronidation of valproic acid.
Potential pharmacokinetic interactions of or with levetiracetam were assessed in clinical pharmacokinetic studies (phenytoin, valproate, warfarin, digoxin, oral contraceptive, probenecid) and through pharmacokinetic screening in the placebo-controlled clinical studies in epilepsy patients.
Phenytoin Levetiracetam (3000 mg daily) had no effect on the pharmacokinetic disposition of phenytoin in patients with refractory epilepsy.
Pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam were also not affected by phenytoin.
Valproate Levetiracetam (1500 mg twice daily) did not alter the pharmacokinetics of valproate in healthy volunteers.
Valproate 500 mg twice daily did not modify the rate or extent of levetiracetam absorption or its plasma clearance or urinary excretion.
There also was no effect on exposure to and the excretion of the primary metabolite, ucb L057.
Other Antiepileptic Drugs Potential drug interactions between levetiracetam and other AEDs (carbamazepine, gabapentin, lamotrigine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone and valproate) were also assessed by evaluating the serum concentrations of levetiracetam and these AEDs during placebo-controlled clinical studies.
These data indicate that levetiracetam does not influence the plasma concentration of other AEDs and that these AEDs do not influence the pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam.
Effect of AEDs in Pediatric Patients There was about a 22% increase of apparent total body clearance of levetiracetam when it was coadministered with enzyme-inducing AEDs.
Dose adjustment is not recommended.
Levetiracetam had no effect on plasma concentrations of carbamazepine, valproate, topiramate, or lamotrigine.
Oral Contraceptives Levetiracetam (500 mg twice daily) did not influence the pharmacokinetics of an oral contraceptive containing 0.03 mg ethinyl estradiol and 0.15 mg levonorgestrel, or of the luteinizing hormone and progesterone levels, indicating that impairment of contraceptive efficacy is unlikely.
Coadministration of this oral contraceptive did not influence the pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam.
Digoxin Levetiracetam (1000 mg twice daily) did not influence the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (ECG) of digoxin given as a 0.25 mg dose every day.
Coadministration of digoxin did not influence the pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam.
Warfarin Levetiracetam (1000 mg twice daily) did not influence the pharmacokinetics of R and S warfarin.
Prothrombin time was not affected by levetiracetam.
Coadministration of warfarin did not affect the pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam.
Probenecid Probenecid, a renal tubular secretion blocking agent, administered at a dose of 500 mg four times a day, did not change the pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam 1000 mg twice daily.
Cssmax of the metabolite, ucb L057, was approximately doubled in the presence of probenecid while the fraction of drug excreted unchanged in the urine remained the same.
Renal clearance of ucb L057 in the presence of probenecid decreased 60%, probably related to competitive inhibition of tubular secretion of ucb L057.
The effect of levetiracetam on probenecid was not studied.
Clinical Studies All clinical studies supporting the efficacy of levetiracetam utilized oral formulations.
The finding of efficacy of levetiracetam injection is based on the results of studies using an oral formulation of levetiracetam, and on the demonstration of comparable bioavailability of the oral and parenteral formulations [see Pharmacokinetics].
Partial Onset Seizures Effectiveness In Partial Onset Seizures In Adults With Epilepsy The effectiveness of levetiracetam as adjunctive therapy (added to other antiepileptic drugs) in adults was established in three multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical studies in patients who had refractory partial onset seizures with or without secondary generalization.
The tablet formulation was used in all these studies.
In these studies, 904 patients were randomized to placebo, 1000 mg, 2000 mg, or 3000 mg/day.
Patients enrolled in Study 1 or Study 2 had refractory partial onset seizures for at least two years and had taken two or more classical AEDs.
Patients enrolled in Study 3 had refractory partial onset seizures for at least 1 year and had taken one classical AED.
At the time of the study, patients were taking a stable dose regimen of at least one and could take a maximum of two AEDs.
During the baseline period, patients had to have experienced at least two partial onset seizures during each 4-week period.
Study 1 Study 1 was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study conducted at 41 sites in the United States comparing levetiracetam 1000 mg/day (N=97), levetiracetam 3000 mg/day (N=101), and placebo (N=95) given in equally divided doses twice daily.
After a prospective baseline period of 12 weeks, patients were randomized to one of the three treatment groups described above.
The 18-week treatment period consisted of a 6-week titration period, followed by a 12-week fixed dose evaluation period, during which concomitant AED regimens were held constant.
The primary measure of effectiveness was a between group comparison of the percent reduction in weekly partial seizure frequency relative to placebo over the entire randomized treatment period (titration + evaluation period).
Secondary outcome variables included the responder rate (incidence of patients with ≥ 50% reduction from baseline in partial onset seizure frequency).
The results of the analysis of Study 1 are displayed in Table 10.
Table 10: Reduction in Mean Over Placebo in Weekly Frequency of Partial Onset Seizures in Study 1 Placebo (N=95) Levetiracetam 1000 mg/day (N=97) Levetiracetam 3000 mg/day (N=101) Percent reduction in partial seizure frequency over placebo - 26.1%* 30.1%* * statistically significant versus placebo The percentage of patients (y-axis) who achieved ≥ 50% reduction in weekly seizure rates from baseline in partial onset seizure frequency over the entire randomized treatment period (titration + evaluation period) within the three treatment groups (x-axis) is presented in Figure 1.
Figure 1: Responder Rate ( ≥ 50% Reduction from Baseline) in Study 1 *statistically significant versus placebo Study 2 Study 2 was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study conducted at 62 centers in Europe comparing levetiracetam 1000 mg/day (N=106), levetiracetam 2000 mg/day (N=105), and placebo (N=111) given in equally divided doses twice daily.
The first period of the study (Period A) was designed to be analyzed as a parallel-group study.
After a prospective baseline period of up to 12 weeks, patients were randomized to one of the three treatment groups described above.
The 16-week treatment period consisted of the 4-week titration period followed by a 12-week fixed dose evaluation period, during which concomitant AED regimens were held constant.
The primary measure of effectiveness was a between group comparison of the percent reduction in weekly partial seizure frequency relative to placebo over the entire randomized treatment period (titration + evaluation period).
Secondary outcome variables included the responder rate (incidence of patients with ≥ 50% reduction from baseline in partial onset seizure frequency).
The results of the analysis of Period A are displayed in Table 11.
Table 11: Reduction in Mean Over Placebo in Weekly Frequency of Partial Onset Seizures in Study 2: Period A Placebo (N=111) Levetiracetam 1000 mg/day (N=106) Levetiracetam 2000 mg/day (N=105) Percent reduction in partial seizure frequency over placebo — 17.1%* 21.4%* *statistically significant versus placebo The percentage of patients (y-axis) who achieved ≥ 50% reduction in weekly seizure rates from baseline in partial onset seizure frequency over the entire randomized treatment period (titration + evaluation period) within the three treatment groups (x-axis) is presented in Figure 2.
Figure 2: Responder Rate ( ≥ 50% Reduction from Baseline) in Study 2: Period A * statistically significant versus placebo The comparison of levetiracetam 2000 mg/day to levetiracetam 1000 mg/day for responder rate was statistically significant (P=0.02).
Analysis of the trial as a cross-over yielded similar results.
Study 3 Study 3 was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study conducted at 47 centers in Europe comparing levetiracetam 3000 mg/day (N=180) and placebo (N=104) in patients with refractory partial onset seizures, with or without secondary generalization, receiving only one concomitant AED.
Study drug was given in two divided doses.
After a prospective baseline period of 12 weeks, patients were randomized to one of two treatment groups described above.
The 16-week treatment period consisted of a 4-week titration period, followed by a 12-week fixed dose evaluation period, during which concomitant AED doses were held constant.
The primary measure of effectiveness was a between group comparison of the percent reduction in weekly seizure frequency relative to placebo over the entire randomized treatment period (titration + evaluation period).
Secondary outcome variables included the responder rate (incidence of patients with ≥ 50% reduction from baseline in partial onset seizure frequency).
Table 12 displays the results of the analysis of Study 3.
Table 12: Reduction in Mean Over Placebo in Weekly Frequency of Partial Ons et Seizures in Study 3 Placebo (N=104) Levetiracetam 3000 mg/day (N=180) Percent reduction in partial seizure frequency over placebo - 23.0%* * statistically significant versus placebo The percentage of patients (y-axis) who achieved ≥ 50% reduction in weekly seizure rates from baseline in partial onset seizure frequency over the entire randomized treatment period (titration + evaluation period) within the two treatment groups (x-axis) is presented in Figure 3.
Figure 3: Responder Rate ( ≥ 50% Reduction from Baseline) in Study 3 *statistically significant versus placebo Effectiveness In Partial Onset Seizures In Pediatric Patients 4 Years To 16 Years With Epilepsy Study 4 was a multicenter, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study, in pediatric patients 4 to 16 years of age with partial seizures uncontrolled by standard antiepileptic drugs (AEDs).
Study 4 was conducted at 60 sites in North America.
The study consisted of an 8-week baseline period and 4-week titration period followed by a 10-week evaluation period.
Eligible patients who still experienced, on a stable dose of 1-2 AEDs, at least 4 partial onset seizures during the 4 weeks prior to screening, as well as at least 4 partial onset seizures in each of the two 4-week baseline periods, were randomized to receive either levetiracetam or placebo.
Dosing was initiated at a dose of 20 mg/kg/day in two divided doses.
During the treatment period, levetiracetam doses were adjusted in 20 mg/kg/day increments, at 2- week intervals to the target dose of 60 mg/kg/day.
The primary measure of efficacy was a between group comparison of the percent reduction in weekly partial seizure frequency relative to placebo over the entire 14-week randomized treatment period (titration + evaluation period).
Secondary outcome variables included the responder rate (incidence of patients with ≥ 50% reduction from baseline in partial onset seizure frequency per week).
The enrolled population included 198 patients (levetiracetam N=101, placebo N=97) with refractory partial onset seizures, whether or not secondarily generalized.
Table 13 displays the results of Study 4.
Table 13: Reduction in Mean Over Placebo in Weekly Frequency of Partial Onset Seizures in Study 4 Placebo (N=97) Levetiracetam (N=101) Percent reduction in partial seizure frequency over placebo - 26.8%* *statistically significant versus placebo The percentage of patients (y-axis) who achieved ≥ 50% reduction in weekly seizure rates from baseline in partial onset seizure frequency over the entire randomized treatment period (titration + evaluation period) within the two treatment groups (x-axis) is presented in Figure 4.
Figure 4: Responder Rate ( ≥ 50% Reduction from Baseline) in Study 4 *statistically significant versus placebo Effectiveness In Partial Onset Seizures In Pediatric Patients 1 Month To < 4 Years With Epilepsy Study 5 was a multicenter, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study, in pediatric patients 1 month to less than 4 years of age with partial seizures, uncontrolled by standard epileptic drugs (AEDs).
Study 5 was conducted at 62 sites in North America, South America, and Europe.
Study 5 consisted of a 5-day evaluation period, which included a 1-day titration period followed by a 4-day maintenance period.
Eligible patients who experienced, on a stable dose of 1-2 AEDs, at least 2 partial onset seizures during the 48-hour baseline video EEG were randomized to receive either levetiracetam or placebo.
Randomization was stratified by age range as follows: 1 month to less than 6 months of age (N=4 treated with levetiracetam), 6 months to less than 1 year of age (N=8 treated with levetiracetam), 1 year to less than 2 years of age (N=20 treated with levetiracetam), and 2 years to less than 4 years of age (N=28 treated with levetiracetam).
Levetiracetam dosing was determined by age and weight as follows: children 1 month to less than 6 months old were randomized to a target dose of 40 mg/kg/day, and children 6 months to less than 4 years old were randomized to a target dose of 50 mg/kg/day.
The primary measure of efficacy was the responder rate (percent of patients with ≥ 50% reduction from baseline in average daily partial onset seizure frequency) assessed by a blinded central reader using a 48-hour video EEG performed during the last two days of the 4-day maintenance period.
The enrolled population included 116 patients (levetiracetam N=60, placebo N=56) with refractory partial onset seizures, whether or not secondarily generalized.
A total of 109 patients were included in the efficacy analysis.
A statistically significant difference between levetiracetam and placebo was observed in Study 5 (see Figure 5).
The treatment effect associated with levetiracetam was consistent across age groups.
Figure 5: Responder Rate for All Patients Ages 1 Month to < 4 Years ( ≥ 50% Reduction from Baseline) in Study 5 *statistically significant versus placebo Myoclonic Seizures In Patients With Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy Study 6 was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in patients 12 years of age and older with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) experiencing myoclonic seizures.
Study 6 was conducted at 37 sites in 14 countries.
Eligible patients on a stable dose of 1 antiepileptic drug (AED) experiencing one or more myoclonic seizures per day for at least 8 days during the prospective 8-week baseline period were randomized to either levetiracetam or placebo (levetiracetam N=60, placebo N=60).
Patients were titrated over 4 weeks to a target dose of 3000 mg/day and treated at a stable dose of 3000 mg/day over 12 weeks (evaluation period).
Study drug was given in 2 divided doses.
The primary measure of efficacy was the proportion of patients with at least 50% reduction in the number of days per week with one or more myoclonic seizures during the treatment period (titration + evaluation periods) as compared to baseline.
Table 14 displays the results for the 113 patients with JME in this study.
Of 120 patients enrolled, 113 had a diagnosis of confirmed or suspected JME.
The results of Study 6 are displayed in Table 14.
Table 14: Responder Rate ( ≥ 50% Reduction from Baseline) in Myoclonic Seizure Days per Week in Study 6 Placebo (N=59) Levetiracetam (N=54) Percentage of responders 23.7% 60.4%* *statistically significant versus placebo Primary Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures Effectiveness In Primary Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures In Patients ≥ 6 years Of Age Study 7 was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in patients 6 years of age and older with idiopathic generalized epilepsy experiencing primary generalized tonic-clonic (PGTC) seizures.
Study 7 was conducted at 50 sites in 8 countries.
Eligible patients on a stable dose of 1 or 2 antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) experiencing at least 3 PGTC seizures during the 8-week combined baseline period (at least one PGTC seizure during the 4 weeks prior to the prospective baseline period and at least one PGTC seizure during the 4-week prospective baseline period) were randomized to either levetiracetam or placebo.
The 8-week combined baseline period is referred to as “baseline” in the remainder of this section.
Patients were titrated over 4 weeks to a target dose of 3000 mg/day for adults or a pediatric target dose of 60 mg/kg/day and treated at a stable dose of 3000 mg/day (or 60 mg/kg/day for children) over 20 weeks (evaluation period).
Study drug was given in 2 equally divided doses per day.
The primary measure of efficacy was the percent reduction from baseline in weekly PGTC seizure frequency for levetiracetam and placebo treatment groups over the treatment period (titration + evaluation periods).
The population included 164 patients (levetiracetam N=80, placebo N=84) with idiopathic generalized epilepsy (predominately juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, juvenile absence epilepsy, childhood absence epilepsy, or epilepsy with Grand Mal seizures on awakening) experiencing primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures.
Each of these syndromes of idiopathic generalized epilepsy was well represented in this patient population.
There was a statistically significant decrease from baseline in PGTC frequency in the levetiracetamtreated patients compared to the placebo-treated patients in Study 7 (see Table 15).
Table 15: Median Percent Reduction from Baseline in PGTC Seizure Frequency per Week in Study 7 Placebo (N=84) Levetiracetam (N=78) Percentage reduction in PGTC seizure frequency 44.6% 77.6%* *statistically significant versus placebo The percentage of patients (y-axis) who achieved ≥ 50% reduction in weekly seizure rates from baseline in PGTC seizure frequency over the entire randomized treatment period (titration + evaluation period) within the two treatment groups (x-axis) is presented in Figure 6.
Figure 6: Responder Rate ( ≥ 50% Reduction from Baseline) in PGTC Seizure Frequency per Week in Study 7 *statistically significant versus placebo
Clinical Pharmacology CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY Mechanism Of Action The precise mechanism(s) by which levetiracetam exerts its antiepileptic effect is unknown.
The antiepileptic activity of levetiracetam was assessed in a number of animal models of epileptic seizures.
Levetiracetam did not inhibit single seizures induced by maximal stimulation with electrical current or different chemoconvulsants and showed only minimal activity in submaximal stimulation and in threshold tests.
Protection was observed, however, against secondarily generalized activity from focal seizures induced by pilocarpine and kainic acid, two chemoconvulsants that induce seizures that mimic some features of human complex partial seizures with secondary generalization.
Levetiracetam also displayed inhibitory properties in the kindling model in rats, another model of human complex partial seizures, both during kindling development and in the fully kindled state.
The predictive value of these animal models for specific types of human epilepsy is uncertain.
In vitro and in vivo recordings of epileptiform activity from the hippocampus have shown that levetiracetam inhibits burst firing without affecting normal neuronal excitability, suggesting that levetiracetam may selectively prevent hypersynchronization of epileptiform burst firing and propagation of seizure activity.
Levetiracetam at concentrations of up to 10 μM did not demonstrate binding affinity for a variety of known receptors, such as those associated with benzodiazepines, GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), glycine, NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate), re-uptake sites, and second messenger systems.
Furthermore, in vitro studies have failed to find an effect of levetiracetam on neuronal voltage-gated sodium or Ttype calcium currents and levetiracetam does not appear to directly facilitate GABAergic neurotransmission.
However, in vitro studies have demonstrated that levetiracetam opposes the activity of negative modulators of GABA- and glycine-gated currents and partially inhibits N-type calcium currents in neuronal cells.
A saturable and stereoselective neuronal binding site in rat brain tissue has been described for levetiracetam.
Experimental data indicate that this binding site is the synaptic vesicle protein SV2A, thought to be involved in the regulation of vesicle exocytosis.
Although the molecular significance of levetiracetam binding to synaptic vesicle protein SV2A is not understood, levetiracetam and related analogs showed a rank order of affinity for SV2A which correlated with the potency of their antiseizure activity in audiogenic seizure-prone mice.
These findings suggest that the interaction of levetiracetam with the SV2A protein may contribute to the antiepileptic mechanism of action of the drug.
Pharmacodynamics Effects On QTc Interval The effect of KEPPRA on QTc prolongation was evaluated in a randomized, double-blind, positivecontrolled (moxifloxacin 400 mg) and placebo-controlled crossover study of KEPPRA (1000 mg or 5000 mg) in 52 healthy subjects.
The upper bound of the 90% confidence interval for the largest placebo-adjusted, baseline-corrected QTc was below 10 milliseconds.
Therefore, there was no evidence of significant QTc prolongation in this study.
Pharmacokinetics Equivalent doses of intravenous (IV) levetiracetam and oral levetiracetam result in equivalent Cmax, Cmin, and total systemic exposure to levetiracetam when the IV levetiracetam is administered as a 15- minute infusion.
The pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam have been studied in healthy adult subjects, adults and pediatric patients with epilepsy, elderly subjects, and subjects with renal and hepatic impairment.
Overview Levetiracetam is rapidly and almost completely absorbed after oral administration.
Levetiracetam injection and tablets are bioequivalent.
The pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam are linear and timeinvariant, with low intra- and inter-subject variability.
Levetiracetam is not significantly protein-bound ( < 10% bound) and its volume of distribution is close to the volume of intracellular and extracellular water.
Sixty-six percent (66%) of the dose is renally excreted unchanged.
The major metabolic pathway of levetiracetam (24% of dose) is an enzymatic hydrolysis of the acetamide group.
It is not liver cytochrome P450 dependent.
The metabolites have no known pharmacological activity and are renally excreted.
Plasma half-life of levetiracetam across studies is approximately 6-8 hours.
It is increased in the elderly (primarily due to impaired renal clearance) and in subjects with renal impairment.
Distribution The equivalence of levetiracetam injection and the oral formulation was demonstrated in a bioavailability study of 17 healthy volunteers.
In this study, levetiracetam 1500 mg was diluted in 100 mL 0.9% sterile saline solution and was infused over 15 minutes.
The selected infusion rate provided plasma concentrations of levetiracetam at the end of the infusion period similar to those achieved at Tmax after an equivalent oral dose.
It is demonstrated that levetiracetam 1500 mg intravenous infusion is equivalent to levetiracetam 3 × 500 mg oral tablets.
The time independent pharmacokinetic profile of levetiracetam was demonstrated following 1500 mg intravenous infusion for 4 days with BID dosing.
The AUC(0-12) at steady-state was equivalent to AUCinf following an equivalent single dose.
Levetiracetam and its major metabolite are less than 10% bound to plasma proteins; clinically significant interactions with other drugs through competition for protein binding sites are therefore unlikely.
Metabolism Levetiracetam is not extensively metabolized in humans.
The major metabolic pathway is the enzymatic hydrolysis of the acetamide group, which produces the carboxylic acid metabolite, ucb L057 (24% of dose) and is not dependent on any liver cytochrome P450 isoenzymes.
The major metabolite is inactive in animal seizure models.
Two minor metabolites were identified as the product of hydroxylation of the 2-oxo-pyrrolidine ring (2% of dose) and opening of the 2-oxo-pyrrolidine ring in position 5 (1% of dose).
There is no enantiomeric interconversion of levetiracetam or its major metabolite.
Elimination Levetiracetam plasma half-life in adults is 7 ± 1 hour and is unaffected by either dose, route of administration or repeated administration.
Levetiracetam is eliminated from the systemic circulation by renal excretion as unchanged drug which represents 66% of administered dose.
The total body clearance is 0.96 mL/min/kg and the renal clearance is 0.6 mL/min/kg.
The mechanism of excretion is glomerular filtration with subsequent partial tubular reabsorption.
The metabolite ucb L057 is excreted by glomerular filtration and active tubular secretion with a renal clearance of 4 mL/min/kg.
Levetiracetam elimination is correlated to creatinine clearance.
Levetiracetam clearance is reduced in patients with renal impairment [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION and Use in Specific Populations].
Specific Populations Elderly Pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam were evaluated in 16 elderly subjects (age 61-88 years) with creatinine clearance ranging from 30 to 74 mL/min.
Following oral administration of twice-daily dosing for 10 days, total body clearance decreased by 38% and the half-life was 2.5 hours longer in the elderly compared to healthy adults.
This is most likely due to the decrease in renal function in these subjects.
Pediatric Patients Intravenous Formulation A population pharmacokinetic analysis for the intravenous formulation was conducted in 49 pediatric patients (1 month to < 16 years of age) weighing 3-79 kg.
Patients received levetiracetam as a 15-minute IV infusion at doses between 14 mg/kg/day and 60 mg/kg/day twice daily.
Plasma concentrations and model derived steady-state exposure AUC (0-12) were within the range of the exposure observed in pediatric patients receiving equivalent doses of the oral solution.
Oral Formulations Pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam were evaluated in 24 pediatric patients (age 6-12 years) after single oral dose (20 mg/kg) of the immediate release formulation of KEPPRA.
The body weight adjusted apparent clearance of levetiracetam was approximately 40% higher than in adults.
A repeat dose pharmacokinetic study was conducted in pediatric patients (age 4-12 years) at doses of 20 mg/kg/day, 40 mg/kg/day, and 60 mg/kg/day of the immediate release formulation of KEPPRA.
The evaluation of the pharmacokinetic profile of levetiracetam and its metabolite (ucb L057) in 14 pediatric patients demonstrated rapid absorption of levetiracetam at all doses, with a Tmax of about 1 hour and a t½ of 5 hours across all dosing levels.
The pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam in pediatric patients was linear between 20 to 60 mg/kg/day.
The potential interaction of levetiracetam with other AEDs was also evaluated in these patients.
Levetiracetam had no significant effect on the plasma concentrations of carbamazepine, valproic acid, topiramate or lamotrigine.
However, there was about a 22% increase of apparent clearance of levetiracetam when it was co-administered with an enzyme-inducing AED (e.g., carbamazepine).
Following single dose administration (20 mg/kg) of a 10% oral solution to pediatric patients with epilepsy (1 month to < 4 years), levetiracetam was rapidly absorbed and peak plasma concentrations were observed approximately 1 hour after dosing.
Levetiracetam half-life in pediatric patients 1 month to < 4 years with epilepsy was shorter (5.3 h) than in adults (7.2 h), and apparent clearance (1.5 mL/min/kg) was faster than in adults (0.96 mL/min/kg).
Population pharmacokinetic analysis showed that body weight was significantly correlated to the clearance of levetiracetam in pediatric patients; clearance increased with an increase in body weight.
Pregnancy Levetiracetam levels may decrease during pregnancy.
Gender Levetiracetam Cmax and AUC were 20% higher in women (N=11) compared to men (N=12).
However, clearances adjusted for body weight were comparable.
Race Formal pharmacokinetic studies of the effects of race have not been conducted.
Cross-study comparisons involving Caucasians (N=12) and Asians (N=12), however, show that pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam were comparable between the two races.
Because levetiracetam is primarily renally excreted and there are no important racial differences in creatinine clearance, pharmacokinetic differences due to race are not expected.
Renal Impairment The disposition of levetiracetam was studied in adult subjects with varying degrees of renal function.
Total body clearance of levetiracetam is reduced in patients with impaired renal function by 40% in the mild group (CLcr = 50-80 mL/min), 50% in the moderate group (CLcr = 30-50 mL/min) and 60% in the severe renal impairment group (CLcr < 30 mL/min).
Clearance of levetiracetam is correlated with creatinine clearance.
In anuric (end stage renal disease) patients, the total body clearance decreased 70% compared to normal subjects (CLcr > 80mL/min).
Approximately 50% of the pool of levetiracetam in the body is removed during a standard 4 hour hemodialysis procedure [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Hepatic Impairment In subjects with mild (Child-Pugh A) to moderate (Child-Pugh B) hepatic impairment, the pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam were unchanged.
In patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child- Pugh C), total body clearance was 50% that of normal subjects, but decreased renal clearance accounted for most of the decrease.
No dose adjustment is needed for patients with hepatic impairment.
Drug Interactions In vitro data on metabolic interactions indicate that levetiracetam is unlikely to produce, or be subject to, pharmacokinetic interactions.
Levetiracetam and its major metabolite, at concentrations well above Cmax levels achieved within the therapeutic dose range, are neither inhibitors of, nor high affinity substrates for, human liver cytochrome P450 isoforms, epoxide hydrolase or UDP-glucuronidation enzymes.
In addition, levetiracetam does not affect the in vitro glucuronidation of valproic acid.
Potential pharmacokinetic interactions of or with levetiracetam were assessed in clinical pharmacokinetic studies (phenytoin, valproate, warfarin, digoxin, oral contraceptive, probenecid) and through pharmacokinetic screening in the placebo-controlled clinical studies in epilepsy patients.
Phenytoin KEPPRA (3000 mg daily) had no effect on the pharmacokinetic disposition of phenytoin in patients with refractory epilepsy.
Pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam were also not affected by phenytoin.
Valproate KEPPRA (1500 mg twice daily) did not alter the pharmacokinetics of valproate in healthy volunteers.
Valproate 500 mg twice daily did not modify the rate or extent of levetiracetam absorption or its plasma clearance or urinary excretion.
There also was no effect on exposure to and the excretion of the primary metabolite, ucb L057.
Other Antiepileptic Drugs Potential drug interactions between KEPPRA and other AEDs (carbamazepine, gabapentin, lamotrigine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone and valproate) were also assessed by evaluating the serum concentrations of levetiracetam and these AEDs during placebo-controlled clinical studies.
These data indicate that levetiracetam does not influence the plasma concentration of other AEDs and that these AEDs do not influence the pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam.
Effect of AEDs in Pediatric Patients There was about a 22% increase of apparent total body clearance of levetiracetam when it was coadministered with enzyme-inducing AEDs.
Dose adjustment is not recommended.
Levetiracetam had no effect on plasma concentrations of carbamazepine, valproate, topiramate, or lamotrigine.
Oral Contraceptives KEPPRA (500 mg twice daily) did not influence the pharmacokinetics of an oral contraceptive containing 0.03 mg ethinyl estradiol and 0.15 mg levonorgestrel, or of the luteinizing hormone and progesterone levels, indicating that impairment of contraceptive efficacy is unlikely.
Coadministration of this oral contraceptive did not influence the pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam.
Digoxin KEPPRA (1000 mg twice daily) did not influence the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (ECG) of digoxin given as a 0.25 mg dose every day.
Coadministration of digoxin did not influence the pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam.
Warfarin KEPPRA (1000 mg twice daily) did not influence the pharmacokinetics of R and S warfarin.
Prothrombin time was not affected by levetiracetam.
Coadministration of warfarin did not affect the pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam.
Probenecid Probenecid, a renal tubular secretion blocking agent, administered at a dose of 500 mg four times a day, did not change the pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam 1000 mg twice daily.
Cssmax of the metabolite, ucb L057, was approximately doubled in the presence of probenecid while the fraction of drug excreted unchanged in the urine remained the same.
Renal clearance of ucb L057 in the presence of probenecid decreased 60%, probably related to competitive inhibition of tubular secretion of ucb L057.
The effect of KEPPRA on probenecid was not studied.
Clinical Studies All clinical studies supporting the efficacy of KEPPRA utilized oral formulations.
The finding of efficacy of KEPPRA injection is based on the results of studies using an oral formulation of KEPPRA, and on the demonstration of comparable bioavailability of the oral and parenteral formulations [see Pharmacokinetics].
Partial Onset Seizures Effectiveness In Partial Onset Seizures In Adults With Epilepsy The effectiveness of KEPPRA as adjunctive therapy (added to other antiepileptic drugs) in adults was established in three multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical studies in patients who had refractory partial onset seizures with or without secondary generalization.
The tablet formulation was used in all these studies.
In these studies, 904 patients were randomized to placebo, 1000 mg, 2000 mg, or 3000 mg/day.
Patients enrolled in Study 1 or Study 2 had refractory partial onset seizures for at least two years and had taken two or more classical AEDs.
Patients enrolled in Study 3 had refractory partial onset seizures for at least 1 year and had taken one classical AED.
At the time of the study, patients were taking a stable dose regimen of at least one and could take a maximum of two AEDs.
During the baseline period, patients had to have experienced at least two partial onset seizures during each 4-week period.
Study 1 Study 1 was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study conducted at 41 sites in the United States comparing KEPPRA 1000 mg/day (N=97), KEPPRA 3000 mg/day (N=101), and placebo (N=95) given in equally divided doses twice daily.
After a prospective baseline period of 12 weeks, patients were randomized to one of the three treatment groups described above.
The 18-week treatment period consisted of a 6-week titration period, followed by a 12-week fixed dose evaluation period, during which concomitant AED regimens were held constant.
The primary measure of effectiveness was a between group comparison of the percent reduction in weekly partial seizure frequency relative to placebo over the entire randomized treatment period (titration + evaluation period).
Secondary outcome variables included the responder rate (incidence of patients with ≥ 50% reduction from baseline in partial onset seizure frequency).
The results of the analysis of Study 1 are displayed in Table 10.
Table 10: Reduction in Mean Over Placebo in Weekly Frequency of Partial Onset Seizures in Study 1 Placebo (N=95) KEPPRA 1000 mg/day (N=97) KEPPRA 3000 mg/day (N=101) Percent reduction in partial seizure frequency over placebo - 26.1%* 30.1%* *statistically significant versus placebo The percentage of patients (y-axis) who achieved ≥ 50% reduction in weekly seizure rates from baseline in partial onset seizure frequency over the entire randomized treatment period (titration + evaluation period) within the three treatment groups (x-axis) is presented in Figure 1.
Figure 1: Responder Rate ( ≥ 50% Reduction from Baseline) in Study 1 *statistically significant versus placebo Study 2 Study 2 was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study conducted at 62 centers in Europe comparing KEPPRA 1000 mg/day (N=106), KEPPRA 2000 mg/day (N=105), and placebo (N=111) given in equally divided doses twice daily.
The first period of the study (Period A) was designed to be analyzed as a parallel-group study.
After a prospective baseline period of up to 12 weeks, patients were randomized to one of the three treatment groups described above.
The 16-week treatment period consisted of the 4-week titration period followed by a 12-week fixed dose evaluation period, during which concomitant AED regimens were held constant.
The primary measure of effectiveness was a between group comparison of the percent reduction in weekly partial seizure frequency relative to placebo over the entire randomized treatment period (titration + evaluation period).
Secondary outcome variables included the responder rate (incidence of patients with ≥ 50% reduction from baseline in partial onset seizure frequency).
The results of the analysis of Period A are displayed in Table 11.
Table 11: Reduction in Mean Over Placebo in Weekly Frequency of Partial Onset Seizures in Study 2: Period A Placebo (N=111) KEPPRA 1000 mg/day (N=106) KEPPRA 2000 mg/day (N=105) Percent reduction in partial seizure frequency over placebo - 17.1%* 21.4%* *statistically significant versus placebo The percentage of patients (y-axis) who achieved ≥ 50% reduction in weekly seizure rates from baseline in partial onset seizure frequency over the entire randomized treatment period (titration + evaluation period) within the three treatment groups (x-axis) is presented in Figure 2.
Figure 2: Responder Rate ( ≥ 50% Reduction from Baseline) in Study 2: Period A *statistically significant versus placebo The comparison of KEPPRA 2000 mg/day to KEPPRA 1000 mg/day for responder rate was statistically significant (P=0.02).
Analysis of the trial as a cross-over yielded similar results.
Study 3 Study 3 was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study conducted at 47 centers in Europe comparing KEPPRA 3000 mg/day (N=180) and placebo (N=104) in patients with refractory partial onset seizures, with or without secondary generalization, receiving only one concomitant AED.
Study drug was given in two divided doses.
After a prospective baseline period of 12 weeks, patients were randomized to one of two treatment groups described above.
The 16-week treatment period consisted of a 4-week titration period, followed by a 12-week fixed dose evaluation period, during which concomitant AED doses were held constant.
The primary measure of effectiveness was a between group comparison of the percent reduction in weekly seizure frequency relative to placebo over the entire randomized treatment period (titration + evaluation period).
Secondary outcome variables included the responder rate (incidence of patients with ≥ 50% reduction from baseline in partial onset seizure frequency).
Table 12 displays the results of the analysis of Study 3.
Table 12: Reduction in Mean Over Placebo in Weekly Frequency of Partial Onset Seizures in Study 3 Placebo (N=104) KEPPRA 3000 mg/day (N=180) Percent reduction in partial seizure frequency over placebo - 23.0%* *statistically significant versus placebo The percentage of patients (y-axis) who achieved ≥ 50% reduction in weekly seizure rates from baseline in partial onset seizure frequency over the entire randomized treatment period (titration + evaluation period) within the two treatment groups (x-axis) is presented in Figure 3.
Figure 3: Responder Rate ( ≥ 50% Reduction from Baseline) in Study 3 *statistically significant versus placebo Effectiveness In Partial Onset Seizures In Pediatric Patients 4 Years To 16 Years With Epilepsy Study 4 was a multicenter, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study, in pediatric patients 4 to 16 years of age with partial seizures uncontrolled by standard antiepileptic drugs (AEDs).
Study 4 was conducted at 60 sites in North America.
The study consisted of an 8-week baseline period and 4-week titration period followed by a 10-week evaluation period.
Eligible patients who still experienced, on a stable dose of 1-2 AEDs, at least 4 partial onset seizures during the 4 weeks prior to screening, as well as at least 4 partial onset seizures in each of the two 4-week baseline periods, were randomized to receive either KEPPRA or placebo.
Dosing was initiated at a dose of 20 mg/kg/day in two divided doses.
During the treatment period, KEPPRA doses were adjusted in 20 mg/kg/day increments, at 2- week intervals to the target dose of 60 mg/kg/day.
The primary measure of efficacy was a between group comparison of the percent reduction in weekly partial seizure frequency relative to placebo over the entire 14-week randomized treatment period (titration + evaluation period).
Secondary outcome variables included the responder rate (incidence of patients with ≥ 50% reduction from baseline in partial onset seizure frequency per week).
The enrolled population included 198 patients (KEPPRA N=101, placebo N=97) with refractory partial onset seizures, whether or not secondarily generalized. Table 13 displays the results of Study 4.
Table 13: Reduction in Mean Over Placebo in Weekly Frequency of Partial Onset Seizures in Study 4 Placebo (N=97) KEPPRA (N=101) Percent reduction in partial seizure frequency over placebo - 26.8%* *statistically significant versus placebo The percentage of patients (y-axis) who achieved ≥ 50% reduction in weekly seizure rates from baseline in partial onset seizure frequency over the entire randomized treatment period (titration + evaluation period) within the two treatment groups (x-axis) is presented in Figure 4.
Figure 4: Responder Rate ( ≥ 50% Reduction from Baseline) in Study 4 *statistically significant versus placebo Effectiveness In Partial Onset Seizures In Pediatric Patients 1 Month To < 4 Years With Epilepsy Study 5 was a multicenter, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study, in pediatric patients 1 month to less than 4 years of age with partial seizures, uncontrolled by standard epileptic drugs (AEDs).
Study 5 was conducted at 62 sites in North America, South America, and Europe.
Study 5 consisted of a 5-day evaluation period, which included a 1-day titration period followed by a 4-day maintenance period.
Eligible patients who experienced, on a stable dose of 1-2 AEDs, at least 2 partial onset seizures during the 48-hour baseline video EEG were randomized to receive either KEPPRA or placebo.
Randomization was stratified by age range as follows: 1 month to less than 6 months of age (N=4 treated with KEPPRA), 6 months to less than 1 year of age (N=8 treated with KEPPRA), 1 year to less than 2 years of age (N=20 treated with KEPPRA), and 2 years to less than 4 years of age (N=28 treated with KEPPRA).
KEPPRA dosing was determined by age and weight as follows: children 1 month to less than 6 months old were randomized to a target dose of 40 mg/kg/day, and children 6 months to less than 4 years old were randomized to a target dose of 50 mg/kg/day.
The primary measure of efficacy was the responder rate (percent of patients with ≥ 50% reduction from baseline in average daily partial onset seizure frequency) assessed by a blinded central reader using a 48-hour video EEG performed during the last two days of the 4-day maintenance period.
The enrolled population included 116 patients (KEPPRA N=60, placebo N=56) with refractory partial onset seizures, whether or not secondarily generalized.
A total of 109 patients were included in the efficacy analysis.
A statistically significant difference between KEPPRA and placebo was observed in Study 5 (see Figure 5).
The treatment effect associated with KEPPRA was consistent across age groups.
Figure 5: Responder Rate for All Patients Ages 1 Month to < 4 Years ( ≥ 50% Reduction from Baseline) in Study 5 *statistically significant versus placebo Myoclonic Seizures In Patients With Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy Study 6 was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in patients 12 years of age and older with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) experiencing myoclonic seizures.
Study 6 was conducted at 37 sites in 14 countries.
Eligible patients on a stable dose of 1 antiepileptic drug (AED) experiencing one or more myoclonic seizures per day for at least 8 days during the prospective 8-week baseline period were randomized to either KEPPRA or placebo (KEPPRA N=60, placebo N=60).
Patients were titrated over 4 weeks to a target dose of 3000 mg/day and treated at a stable dose of 3000 mg/day over 12 weeks (evaluation period).
Study drug was given in 2 divided doses.
The primary measure of efficacy was the proportion of patients with at least 50% reduction in the number of days per week with one or more myoclonic seizures during the treatment period (titration + evaluation periods) as compared to baseline.
Table 14 displays the results for the 113 patients with JME in this study.
Of 120 patients enrolled, 113 had a diagnosis of confirmed or suspected JME.
The results of Study 6 are displayed in Table 14.
Table 14: Responder Rate ( ≥ 50% Reduction from Baseline) in Myoclonic Seizure Days per Week in Study 6 Placebo (N=59) KEPPRA (N=54) Percentage of responders 23.7% 60.4%* *statistically significant versus placebo Primary Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures Effectiveness In Primary Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures In Patients ≥ 6 Years Of Age Study 7 was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in patients 6 years of age and older with idiopathic generalized epilepsy experiencing primary generalized tonic-clonic (PGTC) seizures.
Study 7 was conducted at 50 sites in 8 countries.
Eligible patients on a stable dose of 1 or 2 antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) experiencing at least 3 PGTC seizures during the 8-week combined baseline period (at least one PGTC seizure during the 4 weeks prior to the prospective baseline period and at least one PGTC seizure during the 4-week prospective baseline period) were randomized to either KEPPRA or placebo.
The 8-week combined baseline period is referred to as “baseline” in the remainder of this section.
Patients were titrated over 4 weeks to a target dose of 3000 mg/day for adults or a pediatric target dose of 60 mg/kg/day and treated at a stable dose of 3000 mg/day (or 60 mg/kg/day for children) over 20 weeks (evaluation period).
Study drug was given in 2 equally divided doses per day.
The primary measure of efficacy was the percent reduction from baseline in weekly PGTC seizure frequency for KEPPRA and placebo treatment groups over the treatment period (titration + evaluation periods).
The population included 164 patients (KEPPRA N=80, placebo N=84) with idiopathic generalized epilepsy (predominately juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, juvenile absence epilepsy, childhood absence epilepsy, or epilepsy with Grand Mal seizures on awakening) experiencing primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures.
Each of these syndromes of idiopathic generalized epilepsy was well represented in this patient population.
There was a statistically significant decrease from baseline in PGTC frequency in the KEPPRA-treated patients compared to the placebo-treated patients in Study 7 (see Table 15).
Table 15: Median Percent Reduction from Baseline in PGTC Seizure Frequency per Week in Study 7 Placebo (N=84) KEPPRA (N=78) Percentage reduction in PGTC seizure frequency 44.6% 77.6%* *statistically significant versus placebo The percentage of patients (y-axis) who achieved ≥ 50% reduction in weekly seizure rates from baseline in PGTC seizure frequency over the entire randomized treatment period (titration + evaluation period) within the two treatment groups (x-axis) is presented in Figure 6.
Figure 6: Responder Rate ( ≥ 50% Reduction from Baseline) in PGTC Seizure Frequency per Week in Study 7 *statistically significant versus placebo
Clinical Pharmacology CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY Mechanism Of Action The precise mechanism(s) by which levetiracetam exerts its antiepileptic effect is unknown.
The antiepileptic activity of levetiracetam was assessed in a number of animal models of epileptic seizures.
Levetiracetam did not inhibit single seizures induced by maximal stimulation with electrical current or different chemoconvulsants and showed only minimal activity in submaximal stimulation and in threshold tests.
Protection was observed, however, against secondarily generalized activity from focal seizures induced by pilocarpine and kainic acid, two chemoconvulsants that induce seizures that mimic some features of human complex partial seizures with secondary generalization.
Levetiracetam also displayed inhibitory properties in the kindling model in rats, another model of human complex partial seizures, both during kindling development and in the fully kindled state.
The predictive value of these animal models for specific types of human epilepsy is uncertain.
In vitro and in vivo recordings of epileptiform activity from the hippocampus have shown that levetiracetam inhibits burst firing without affecting normal neuronal excitability, suggesting that levetiracetam may selectively prevent hypersynchronization of epileptiform burst firing and propagation of seizure activity.
Levetiracetam at concentrations of up to 10 μM did not demonstrate binding affinity for a variety of known receptors, such as those associated with benzodiazepines, GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), glycine, NMDA (N-methyl-Daspartate), re-uptake sites, and second messenger systems.
Furthermore, in vitro studies have failed to find an effect of levetiracetam on neuronal voltage-gated sodium or T-type calcium currents and levetiracetam does not appear to directly facilitate GABAergic neurotransmission.
However, in vitro studies have demonstrated that levetiracetam opposes the activity of negative modulators of GABA- and glycine-gated currents and partially inhibits N-type calcium currents in neuronal cells.
A saturable and stereoselective neuronal binding site in rat brain tissue has been described for levetiracetam.
Experimental data indicate that this binding site is the synaptic vesicle protein SV2A, thought to be involved in the regulation of vesicle exocytosis.
Although the molecular significance of levetiracetam binding to SV2A is not understood, levetiracetam and related analogs showed a rank order of affinity for SV2A which correlated with the potency of their antiseizure activity in audiogenic seizure-prone mice.
These findings suggest that the interaction of levetiracetam with the SV2A protein may contribute to the antiepileptic mechanism of action of the drug.
Pharmacodynamics Effects On QTc Interval The effect of KEPPRA on QTc prolongation was evaluated in a randomized, double-blind, positive-controlled (moxifloxacin 400 mg) and placebo-controlled crossover study of KEPPRA (1000 mg or 5000 mg) in 52 healthy subjects.
The upper bound of the 90% confidence interval for the largest placebo-adjusted, baseline-corrected QTc was below 10 milliseconds.
Therefore, there was no evidence of significant QTc prolongation in this study.
Pharmacokinetics Absorption And Distribution Absorption of levetiracetam is rapid, with peak plasma concentrations occurring in about an hour following oral administration in fasted subjects.
The oral bioavailability of levetiracetam tablets is 100% and the tablets and oral solution are bioequivalent in rate and extent of absorption.
Food does not affect the extent of absorption of levetiracetam but it decreases Cmax by 20% and delays Tmax by 1.5 hours.
The pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam are linear over the dose range of 500-5000 mg.
Steady state is achieved after 2 days of multiple twice-daily dosing.
Levetiracetam and its major metabolite are less than 10% bound to plasma proteins; clinically significant interactions with other drugs through competition for protein binding sites are therefore unlikely.
Metabolism Levetiracetam is not extensively metabolized in humans.
The major metabolic pathway is the enzymatic hydrolysis of the acetamide group, which produces the carboxylic acid metabolite, ucb L057 (24% of dose) and is not dependent on any liver cytochrome P450 isoenzymes.
The major metabolite is inactive in animal seizure models.
Two minor metabolites were identified as the product of hydroxylation of the 2-oxo-pyrrolidine ring (2% of dose) and opening of the 2-oxo-pyrrolidine ring in position 5 (1% of dose).
There is no enantiomeric interconversion of levetiracetam or its major metabolite.
Elimination Levetiracetam plasma half-life in adults is 7 ± 1 hour and is unaffected by either dose or repeated administration.
Levetiracetam is eliminated from the systemic circulation by renal excretion as unchanged drug which represents 66% of administered dose.
The total body clearance is 0.96 mL/min/kg and the renal clearance is 0.6 mL/min/kg.
The mechanism of excretion is glomerular filtration with subsequent partial tubular reabsorption.
The metabolite ucb L057 is excreted by glomerular filtration and active tubular secretion with a renal clearance of 4 mL/min/kg.
Levetiracetam elimination is correlated to creatinine clearance.
Levetiracetam clearance is reduced in patients with renal impairment [see Use In Specific Populations and DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Specific Populations Elderly Pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam were evaluated in 16 elderly subjects (age 61-88 years) with creatinine clearance ranging from 30 to 74 mL/min.
Following oral administration of twice-daily dosing for 10 days, total body clearance decreased by 38% and the half-life was 2.5 hours longer in the elderly compared to healthy adults.
This is most likely due to the decrease in renal function in these subjects.
Pediatric Patients Pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam were evaluated in 24 pediatric patients (age 6-12 years) after single dose (20 mg/kg).
The body weight adjusted apparent clearance of levetiracetam was approximately 40% higher than in adults.
A repeat dose pharmacokinetic study was conducted in pediatric patients (age 4-12 years) at doses of 20 mg/kg/day, 40 mg/kg/day, and 60 mg/kg/day.
The evaluation of the pharmacokinetic profile of levetiracetam and its metabolite (ucb L057) in 14 pediatric patients demonstrated rapid absorption of levetiracetam at all doses with a Tmax of about 1 hour and a t½ of 5 hours across the three dosing levels.
The pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam in children was linear between 20 to 60 mg/kg/day.
The potential interaction of levetiracetam with other AEDs was also evaluated in these patients.
Levetiracetam had no significant effect on the plasma concentrations of carbamazepine, valproic acid, topiramate or lamotrigine.
However, there was about a 22% increase of apparent clearance of levetiracetam when it was co-administered with an enzyme-inducing AED (e.g.
carbamazepine).
Following single dose administration (20 mg/kg) of a 10% oral solution to children with epilepsy (1 month to < 4 years), levetiracetam was rapidly absorbed and peak plasma concentrations were observed approximately 1 hour after dosing.
The pharmacokinetic results indicated that half-life was shorter (5.3 h) than for adults (7.2 h) and apparent clearance was faster (1.5 mL/min/kg) than for adults (0.96 mL/min/kg).
Population pharmacokinetic analysis showed that body weight was significantly correlated to the clearance of levetiracetam in pediatric patients; clearance increased with an increase in body weight.
Pregnancy Levetiracetam levels may decrease during pregnancy.
Gender Levetiracetam Cmax and AUC were 20% higher in women (N=11) compared to men (N=12).
However, clearances adjusted for body weight were comparable.
Race Formal pharmacokinetic studies of the effects of race have not been conducted.
Cross-study comparisons involving Caucasians (N=12) and Asians (N=12), however, show that pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam were comparable between the two races.
Because levetiracetam is primarily renally excreted and there are no important racial differences in creatinine clearance, pharmacokinetic differences due to race are not expected.
Renal Impairment The disposition of levetiracetam was studied in adult subjects with varying degrees of renal function.
Total body clearance of levetiracetam is reduced in patients with impaired renal function by 40% in the mild group (CLcr = 50-80 mL/min), 50% in the moderate group (CLcr = 30-50 mL/min) and 60% in the severe renal impairment group (CLcr <30 mL/min).
Clearance of levetiracetam is correlated with creatinine clearance.
In anuric (end stage renal disease) patients, the total body clearance decreased 70% compared to normal subjects (CLcr >80 mL/min).
Approximately 50% of the pool of levetiracetam in the body is removed during a standard 4- hour hemodialysis procedure [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Hepatic Impairment In subjects with mild (Child-Pugh A) to moderate (Child-Pugh B) hepatic impairment, the pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam were unchanged.
In patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh C), total body clearance was 50% that of normal subjects, but decreased renal clearance accounted for most of the decrease.
No dose adjustment is needed for patients with hepatic impairment.
Drug Interactions In vitro data on metabolic interactions indicate that levetiracetam is unlikely to produce, or be subject to, pharmacokinetic interactions.
Levetiracetam and its major metabolite, at concentrations well above Cmax levels achieved within the therapeutic dose range, are neither inhibitors of, nor high affinity substrates for, human liver cytochrome P450 isoforms, epoxide hydrolase or UDP-glucuronidation enzymes.
In addition, levetiracetam does not affect the in vitro glucuronidation of valproic acid.
Potential pharmacokinetic interactions of or with levetiracetam were assessed in clinical pharmacokinetic studies (phenytoin, valproate, warfarin, digoxin, oral contraceptive, probenecid) and through pharmacokinetic screening in the placebo-controlled clinical studies in epilepsy patients.
Phenytoin KEPPRA (3000 mg daily) had no effect on the pharmacokinetic disposition of phenytoin in patients with refractory epilepsy.
Pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam were also not affected by phenytoin.
Valproate KEPPRA (1500 mg twice daily) did not alter the pharmacokinetics of valproate in healthy volunteers.
Valproate 500 mg twice daily did not modify the rate or extent of levetiracetam absorption or its plasma clearance or urinary excretion.
There also was no effect on exposure to and the excretion of the primary metabolite, ucb L057.
Other Antiepileptic Drugs Potential drug interactions between KEPPRA and other AEDs (carbamazepine, gabapentin, lamotrigine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone and valproate) were also assessed by evaluating the serum concentrations of levetiracetam and these AEDs during placebo-controlled clinical studies.
These data indicate that levetiracetam does not influence the plasma concentration of other AEDs and that these AEDs do not influence the pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam.
Effect Of AEDs In Pediatric Patients There was about a 22% increase of apparent total body clearance of levetiracetam when it was co-administered with enzyme-inducing AEDs.
Dose adjustment is not recommended.
Levetiracetam had no effect on plasma concentrations of carbamazepine, valproate, topiramate, or lamotrigine.
Oral Contraceptives KEPPRA (500 mg twice daily) did not influence the pharmacokinetics of an oral contraceptive containing 0.03 mg ethinyl estradiol and 0.15 mg levonorgestrel, or of the luteinizing hormone and progesterone levels, indicating that impairment of contraceptive efficacy is unlikely.
Coadministration of this oral contraceptive did not influence the pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam.
Digoxin KEPPRA (1000 mg twice daily) did not influence the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (ECG) of digoxin given as a 0.25 mg dose every day.
Coadministration of digoxin did not influence the pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam.
Warfarin KEPPRA (1000 mg twice daily) did not influence the pharmacokinetics of R and S warfarin.
Prothrombin time was not affected by levetiracetam.
Coadministration of warfarin did not affect the pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam.
Probenecid Probenecid, a renal tubular secretion blocking agent, administered at a dose of 500 mg four times a day, did not change the pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam 1000 mg twice daily.
Css max of the metabolite, ucb L057, was approximately doubled in the presence of probenecid while the fraction of drug excreted unchanged in the urine remained the same.
Renal clearance of ucb L057 in the presence of probenecid decreased 60%, probably related to competitive inhibition of tubular secretion of ucb L057.
The effect of KEPPRA on probenecid was not studied.
Clinical Studies Partial Onset Seizures Effectiveness In Partial Onset Seizures In Adults With Epilepsy The effectiveness of KEPPRA as adjunctive therapy (added to other antiepileptic drugs) in adults was established in three multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical studies in patients who had refractory partial onset seizures with or without secondary generalization.
The tablet formulation was used in all these studies.
In these studies, 904 patients were randomized to placebo, 1000 mg, 2000 mg, or 3000 mg/day.
Patients enrolled in Study 1 or Study 2 had refractory partial onset seizures for at least two years and had taken two or more classical AEDs.
Patients enrolled in Study 3 had refractory partial onset seizures for at least 1 year and had taken one classical AED.
At the time of the study, patients were taking a stable dose regimen of at least one and could take a maximum of two AEDs.
During the baseline period, patients had to have experienced at least two partial onset seizures during each 4-week period.
Study 1 Study 1 was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study conducted at 41 sites in the United States comparing KEPPRA 1000 mg/day (N=97), KEPPRA 3000 mg/day (N=101), and placebo (N=95) given in equally divided doses twice daily.
After a prospective baseline period of 12 weeks, patients were randomized to one of the three treatment groups described above.
The 18-week treatment period consisted of a 6-week titration period, followed by a 12-week fixed dose evaluation period, during which concomitant AED regimens were held constant.
The primary measure of effectiveness was a between group comparison of the percent reduction in weekly partial seizure frequency relative to placebo over the entire randomized treatment period (titration + evaluation period).
Secondary outcome variables included the responder rate (incidence of patients with ≥ 50% reduction from baseline in partial onset seizure frequency).
The results of the analysis of Study 1 are displayed in Table 10.
Table 10: Reduction in Mean Over Placebo in Weekly Frequency of Partial Onset Seizures in Study 1 Placebo (N=95) KEPPRA 1000 mg/day (N=97) KEPPRA 3000 mg/day (N=101) Percent reduction in partial seizure frequency over placebo - 26.1%* 30.1%* *statistically significant versus placebo The percentage of patients (y-axis) who achieved ≥ 50% reduction in weekly seizure rates from baseline in partial onset seizure frequency over the entire randomized treatment period (titration + evaluation period) within the three treatment groups (x-axis) is presented in Figure 1.
Figure 1: Responder Rate (≥ 50% Reduction from Baseline) in Study 1 Study 2 Study 2 was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study conducted at 62 centers in Europe comparing KEPPRA 1000 mg/day (N=106), KEPPRA 2000 mg/day (N=105), and placebo (N=111) given in equally divided doses twice daily.
The first period of the study (Period A) was designed to be analyzed as a parallel-group study.
After a prospective baseline period of up to 12 weeks, patients were randomized to one of the three treatment groups described above.
The 16-week treatment period consisted of the 4-week titration period followed by a 12-week fixed dose evaluation period, during which concomitant AED regimens were held constant.
The primary measure of effectiveness was a between group comparison of the percent reduction in weekly partial seizure frequency relative to placebo over the entire randomized treatment period (titration + evaluation period).
Secondary outcome variables included the responder rate (incidence of patients with ≥ 50% reduction from baseline in partial onset seizure frequency).
The results of the analysis of Period A are displayed in Table 11.
Table 11: Reduction in Mean Over Placebo in Weekly Frequency of Partial Onset Seizures in Study 2: Period A Placebo (N=111) KEPPRA 1000 mg/day (N=106) KEPPRA 2000 mg/day (N=105) Percent reduction in partial seizure frequency over placebo - 17.1%* 21.4%* *statistically significant versus placebo The percentage of patients (y-axis) who achieved ≥ 50% reduction in weekly seizure rates from baseline in partial onset seizure frequency over the entire randomized treatment period (titration + evaluation period) within the three treatment groups (x-axis) is presented in Figure 2.
Figure 2: Responder Rate (≥ 50% Reduction from Baseline) in Study 2: Period A The comparison of KEPPRA 2000 mg/day to KEPPRA 1000 mg/day for responder rate was statistically significant (P=0.02).
Analysis of the trial as a cross-over yielded similar results.
Study 3 Study 3 was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study conducted at 47 centers in Europe comparing KEPPRA 3000 mg/day (N=180) and placebo (N=104) in patients with refractory partial onset seizures, with or without secondary generalization, receiving only one concomitant AED.
Study drug was given in two divided doses.
After a prospective baseline period of 12 weeks, patients were randomized to one of two treatment groups described above.
The 16-week treatment period consisted of a 4-week titration period, followed by a 12-week fixed dose evaluation period, during which concomitant AED doses were held constant.
The primary measure of effectiveness was a between group comparison of the percent reduction in weekly seizure frequency relative to placebo over the entire randomized treatment period (titration + evaluation period).
Secondary outcome variables included the responder rate (incidence of patients with ≥ 50% reduction from baseline in partial onset seizure frequency).
Table 12 displays the results of the analysis of Study 3.
Table 12: Reduction in Mean Over Placebo in Weekly Frequency of Partial Onset Seizures in Study 3 Placebo (N=104) KEPPRA 3000 mg/day (N=180) Percent reduction in partial seizure frequency over placebo - 23.0%* *statistically significant versus placebo The percentage of patients (y-axis) who achieved ≥ 50% reduction in weekly seizure rates from baseline in partial onset seizure frequency over the entire randomized treatment period (titration + evaluation period) within the two treatment groups (x-axis) is presented in Figure 3.
Figure 3: Responder Rate (≥ 50% Reduction from Baseline) in Study 3 Effectiveness In Partial Onset Seizures In Pediatric Patients 4 Years To 16 Years With Epilepsy The effectiveness of KEPPRA as adjunctive therapy (added to other antiepileptic drugs) in pediatric patients was established in one multicenter, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study (Study 4), conducted at 60 sites in North America, in pediatric patients 4 to 16 years of age with partial seizures uncontrolled by standard antiepileptic drugs (AEDs).
Eligible patients on a stable dose of 1-2 AEDs, who still experienced at least 4 partial onset seizures during the 4 weeks prior to screening, as well as at least 4 partial onset seizures in each of the two 4-week baseline periods, were randomized to receive either KEPPRA or placebo.
The enrolled population included 198 patients (KEPPRA N=101, placebo N=97) with refractory partial onset seizures, whether or not secondarily generalized.
The study consisted of an 8-week baseline period and 4-week titration period followed by a 10-week evaluation period.
Dosing was initiated at a dose of 20 mg/kg/day in two divided doses.
During the treatment period, KEPPRA doses were adjusted in 20 mg/kg/day increments, at 2-week intervals to the target dose of 60 mg/kg/day.
The primary measure of effectiveness was a between group comparison of the percent reduction in weekly partial seizure frequency relative to placebo over the entire 14-week randomized treatment period (titration + evaluation period).
Secondary outcome variables included the responder rate (incidence of patients with ≥ 50% reduction from baseline in partial onset seizure frequency per week).
Table 13 displays the results of this study.
Table 13: Reduction in Mean Over Placebo in Weekly Frequency of Partial Onset Seizures in Study 4 Placebo (N=97) KEPPRA (N=101) Percent reduction in partial seizure frequency over placebo - 26.8%* *statistically significant versus placebo The percentage of patients (y-axis) who achieved ≥ 50% reduction in weekly seizure rates from baseline in partial onset seizure frequency over the entire randomized treatment period (titration + evaluation period) within the two treatment groups (x-axis) is presented in Figure 4.
Figure 4: Responder Rate (≥ 50% Reduction from Baseline) in Study 4 Effectiveness In Partial Onset Seizures In Pediatric Patients 1 Month To <4 Years With Epilepsy The effectiveness of KEPPRA as adjunctive therapy in pediatric patients was established in one multicenter, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study (Study 5), conducted at 62 sites in North America, South America, and Europe in pediatric patients 1 month to less than 4 years of age with partial seizures, uncontrolled by standard epileptic drugs (AEDs).
Eligible patients on a stable dose of 1-2 AEDs, who experienced at least 2 partial onset seizures during the 48-hour baseline video EEG were randomized to receive either KEPPRA or placebo.
The enrolled population included 116 patients (KEPPRA N=60, placebo N=56) with refractory partial onset seizures, whether or not secondarily generalized.
Randomization was stratified by age range as follows: 1 month to less than 6 months of age (N=4 treated with KEPPRA), 6 months to less than 1 year of age (N=8 treated with KEPPRA), 1 year to less than 2 years of age (N=20 treated with KEPPRA), and 2 years to less than 4 years of age (N=28 treated with KEPPRA).
The study consisted of a 5-day evaluation period which included a 1-day titration period followed by a 4-day maintenance period.
KEPPRA dosing was determined by age and weight as follows: children 1 month to less than 6 months old were randomized to a target dose of 40 mg/kg/day, and children 6 months to less than 4 years old were randomized to a target dose of 50 mg/kg/day.
The primary measure of effectiveness was the responder rate (percent of patients with ≥ 50% reduction from baseline in average daily partial onset seizure frequency) assessed by a blinded central reader using a 48-hour video EEG performed during the last two days of the 4-day maintenance period.
A total of 109 patients were included in the efficacy analysis.
A statistically significant difference between KEPPRA and placebo was observed (see Figure 5).
The treatment effect associated with KEPPRA was consistent across age groups.
Figure 5: Responder Rate for All Patients Ages 1 Month to < 4 Years (≥ 50% Reduction from Baseline) in Study 5 Myoclonic Seizures In Patients With Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy Effectiveness Of Myoclonic Seizures In Patients ≥12 Years Of Age With Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy (JME) The effectiveness of KEPPRA as adjunctive therapy (added to other antiepileptic drugs) in patients 12 years of age and older with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) experiencing myoclonic seizures was established in one multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (Study 6), conducted at 37 sites in 14 countries.
Of the 120 patients enrolled, 113 had a diagnosis of confirmed or suspected JME.
Eligible patients on a stable dose of 1 antiepileptic drug (AED) experiencing one or more myoclonic seizures per day for at least 8 days during the prospective 8-week baseline period were randomized to either KEPPRA or placebo (KEPPRA N=60, placebo N=60).
Patients were titrated over 4 weeks to a target dose of 3000 mg/day and treated at a stable dose of 3000 mg/day over 12 weeks (evaluation period).
Study drug was given in 2 divided doses.
The primary measure of effectiveness was the proportion of patients with at least 50% reduction in the number of days per week with one or more myoclonic seizures during the treatment period (titration + evaluation periods) as compared to baseline.
Table 14 displays the results for the 113 patients with JME in this study.
Table 14: Responder Rate (≥ 50% Reduction from Baseline) in Myoclonic Seizure Days per Week for Patients with JME in Study 6 Placebo (N=59) KEPPRA (N=54) Percentage of responders 23.7% 60.4%* *statistically significant versus placebo Primary Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures Effectiveness In Primary Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures In Patients ≥ 6 Years Of Age The effectiveness of KEPPRA as adjunctive therapy (added to other antiepileptic drugs) in patients 6 years of age and older with idiopathic generalized epilepsy experiencing primary generalized tonic-clonic (PGTC) seizures was established in one multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (Study 7), conducted at 50 sites in 8 countries.
Eligible patients on a stable dose of 1 or 2 antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) experiencing at least 3 PGTC seizures during the 8-week combined baseline period (at least one PGTC seizure during the 4 weeks prior to the prospective baseline period and at least one PGTC seizure during the 4-week prospective baseline period) were randomized to either KEPPRA or placebo.
The 8-week combined baseline period is referred to as “baseline” in the remainder of this section.
Patients were titrated over 4 weeks to a target dose of 3000 mg/day for adults or a pediatric target dose of 60 mg/kg/day and treated at a stable dose of 3000 mg/day (or 60 mg/kg/day for children) over 20 weeks (evaluation period).
Study drug was given in 2 equally divided doses per day.
The primary measure of effectiveness was the percent reduction from baseline in weekly PGTC seizure frequency for KEPPRA and placebo treatment groups over the treatment period (titration + evaluation periods).
The population included 164 patients (KEPPRA N=80, placebo N=84) with idiopathic generalized epilepsy (predominately juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, juvenile absence epilepsy, childhood absence epilepsy, or epilepsy with Grand Mal seizures on awakening) experiencing primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures.
Each of these syndromes of idiopathic generalized epilepsy was well represented in this patient population.
There was a statistically significant decrease from baseline in PGTC frequency in the KEPPRA-treated patients compared to the placebo-treated patients.
Table 15: Median Percent Reduction from Baseline in PGTC Seizure Frequency per Week in Study 7 Placebo (N=84) KEPPRA (N=78) Percent reduction in PGTC seizure frequency 44.6% 77.6%* *statistically significant versus placebo The percentage of patients (y-axis) who achieved ≥ 50% reduction in weekly seizure rates from baseline in PGTC seizure frequency over the entire randomized treatment period (titration + evaluation period) within the two treatment groups (x-axis) is presented in Figure 6.
Figure 6: Responder Rate (≥ 50% Reduction from Baseline) in PGTC Seizure Frequency per Week in Study 7
Drug Description Find Lowest Prices on ROWEEPRA (levetiracetam) Tablets, for Oral Use DESCRIPTION ROWEEPRA is an antiepileptic drug available as 500 mg (yellow) tablets for oral administration.
The chemical name of levetiracetam, a single enantiomer, is (-)-(S)-α-ethyl-2-oxo-1-pyrrolidine acetamide, its molecular formula is C8H14N2O2 and its molecular weight is 170.21.
Levetiracetam is chemically unrelated to existing antiepileptic drugs (AEDs).
It has the following structural formula: Levetiracetam, USP is a white to off-white crystalline powder with a faint odor and a bitter taste.
It is very soluble in water (104.0 g/100 mL).
It is freely soluble in chloroform (65.3 g/100 mL) and in methanol (53.6 g/100 mL), soluble in ethanol (16.5 g/100 mL), sparingly soluble in acetonitrile (5.7 g/100 mL) and practically insoluble in n-hexane.
(Solubility limits are expressed as g/100 mL solvent.) ROWEEPRA tablets contain the labeled amount of levetiracetam, USP.
Inactive ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide, corn starch, hypromellose, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, povidone, titanium dioxide, triacetin and iron oxide yellow.
Drug Description LEVETIRACETAM (levetiracetam) Injection, Solution, and Concentrate DESCRIPTION Levetiracetam injection, USP is an antiepileptic drug available as a clear, colorless, sterile solution (100 mg/mL) for intravenous administration.
The chemical name of levetiracetam, USP a single enantiomer, is (-)-(S)-α-ethyl-2-oxo-1-pyrrolidine acetamide, its molecular formula is C8H14N2O2 and its molecular weight is 170.21.
Levetiracetam, USP is chemically unrelated to existing antiepileptic drugs (AEDs).
It has the following structural formula: Levetiracetam, USP is a white to almost white crystalline powder.
It is very soluble in water, soluble in Acetonitrile and practically insoluble in hexane.
Levetiracetam injection, USP contains 100 mg of levetiracetam per mL.
It is supplied in single-use 5 mL vials containing 500 mg levetiracetam, water for injection, 45 mg sodium chloride, and buffered at approximately pH 5.5 with glacial acetic acid and 8.2 mg sodium acetate trihydrate.
Levetiracetam injection, USP must be diluted prior to intravenous infusion [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Drug Description KEPPRA (levetiracetam) For Intravenous Injection DESCRIPTION KEPPRA injection is an antiepileptic drug available as a clear, colorless, sterile solution (100 mg/mL) for intravenous administration.
The chemical name of levetiracetam, a single enantiomer, is (-)-(S)-α-ethyl-2-oxo-1-pyrrolidine acetamide, its molecular formula is C8H14N2O2 and its molecular weight is 170.21.
Levetiracetam is chemically unrelated to existing antiepileptic drugs (AEDs).
It has the following structural formula: Levetiracetam is a white to off-white crystalline powder with a faint odor and a bitter taste.
It is very soluble in water (104.0 g/100 mL).
It is freely soluble in chloroform (65.3 g/100 mL) and in methanol (53.6 g/100 mL), soluble in ethanol (16.5 g/100 mL), sparingly soluble in acetonitrile (5.7 g/100 mL) and practically insoluble in n-hexane.
(Solubility limits are expressed as g/100 mL solvent.) KEPPRA injection contains 100 mg of levetiracetam per mL.
It is supplied in single-use 5 mL vials containing 500 mg levetiracetam, water for injection, 45 mg sodium chloride, and buffered at approximately pH 5.5 with glacial acetic acid and 8.2 mg sodium acetate trihydrate.
KEPPRA injection must be diluted prior to intravenous infusion [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Drug Description Find Lowest Prices on KEPPRA (levetiracetam) Tablets, for Oral Use KEPPRA (levetiracetam) Oral Solution DESCRIPTION KEPPRA is an antiepileptic drug available as 250 mg (blue), 500 mg (yellow), 750 mg (orange), and 1000 mg (white) tablets and as a clear, colorless, grape-flavored liquid (100 mg/mL) for oral administration.
The chemical name of levetiracetam, a single enantiomer, is (-)-(S)-α-ethyl-2-oxo-1-pyrrolidine acetamide, its molecular formula is C8H14N2O2 and its molecular weight is 170.21.
Levetiracetam is chemically unrelated to existing antiepileptic drugs (AEDs).
It has the following structural formula: Levetiracetam is a white to off-white crystalline powder with a faint odor and a bitter taste.
It is very soluble in water (104.0 g/100 mL).
It is freely soluble in chloroform (65.3 g/100 mL) and in methanol (53.6 g/100 mL), soluble in ethanol (16.5 g/100 mL), sparingly soluble in acetonitrile (5.7 g/100 mL) and practically insoluble in n-hexane.
(Solubility limits are expressed as g/100 mL solvent.) KEPPRA tablets contain the labeled amount of levetiracetam.
Inactive ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, polyethylene glycol 3350, polyethylene glycol 6000, polyvinyl alcohol, talc, titanium dioxide, and additional agents listed below: 250 mg tablets: FD&C Blue #2/indigo carmine aluminum lake 500 mg tablets: iron oxide yellow 750 mg tablets: FD&C yellow #6/sunset yellow FCF aluminum lake, iron oxide red KEPPRA oral solution contains 100 mg of levetiracetam per mL.
Inactive ingredients: ammonium glycyrrhizinate, citric acid monohydrate, glycerin, maltitol solution, methylparaben, potassium acesulfame, propylparaben, purified water, sodium citrate dihydrate and natural and artificial flavor.
Indications & Dosage INDICATIONS Partial Onset Seizures ROWEEPRA is indicated as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial onset seizures in adults and children 1 month of age and older with epilepsy.
Myoclonic Seizures In Patients With Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy ROWEEPRA is indicated as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of myoclonic seizures in adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.
Primary Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures ROWEEPRA is indicated as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in adults and children 6 years of age and older with idiopathic generalized epilepsy.
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Important Administration Instructions ROWEEPRA is given orally with or without food.
The ROWEEPRA dosing regimen depends on the indication, age group, dosage form (tablets or oral solution), and renal function.
Prescribe the oral solution for pediatric patients with body weight ≤ 20 kg.
Prescribe the oral solution or tablets for pediatric patients with body weight above 20 kg.
When using the oral solution in pediatric patients, dosing is weight-based (mg per kg) using a calibrated measuring device (not a household teaspoon or tablespoon).
ROWEEPRA tablets should be swallowed whole.
ROWEEPRA tablets should not be chewed or crushed.
Dosing For Partial Onset Seizures Adults 16 Years And Older Initiate treatment with a daily dose of 1,000 mg/day, given as twice-daily dosing (500 mg twice daily).
Additional dosing increments may be given (1,000 mg/day additional every 2 weeks) to a maximum recommended daily dose of 3,000 mg.
There is no evidence that doses greater than 3,000 mg/day confer additional benefit.
Pediatric Patients 1 Month to < 6 Months Initiate treatment with a daily dose of 14 mg/kg in 2 divided doses (7 mg/kg twice daily).
Increase the daily dose every 2 weeks by increments of 14 mg/kg to the recommended daily dose of 42 mg/kg (21 mg/kg twice daily).
In the clinical trial, the mean daily dose was 35 mg/kg in this age group.
The effectiveness of lower doses has not been studied.
6 Months to <4 Years: Initiate treatment with a daily dose of 20 mg/kg in 2 divided doses (10 mg/kg twice daily).
Increase the daily dose in 2 weeks by an increment of 20 mg/kg to the recommended daily dose of 50 mg/kg (25 mg/kg twice daily).
If a patient cannot tolerate a daily dose of 50 mg/kg, the daily dose may be reduced.
In the clinical trial, the mean daily dose was 47 mg/kg in this age group.
4 Years to < 16 Years Initiate treatment with a daily dose of 20 mg/kg in 2 divided doses (10 mg/kg twice daily).
Increase the daily dose every 2 weeks by increments of 20 mg/kg to the recommended daily dose of 60 mg/kg (30 mg/kg twice daily).
If a patient cannot tolerate a daily dose of 60 mg/kg, the daily dose may be reduced.
In the clinical trial, the mean daily dose was 44 mg/kg.
The maximum daily dose was 3,000 mg/day.
For ROWEEPRA tablet dosing in pediatric patients weighing 20 to 40 kg, initiate treatment with a daily dose of 500 mg given as twice daily dosing (250 mg twice daily).
Increase the daily dose every 2 weeks by increments of 500 mg to a maximum recommended daily dose of 1,500 mg (750 mg twice daily).
For ROWEEPRA tablet dosing in pediatric patients weighing more than 40 kg, initiate treatment with a daily dose of 1,000 mg/day given as twice daily dosing (500 mg twice daily).
Increase the daily dose every 2 weeks by increments of 1,000 mg/day to a maximum recommended daily dose of 3,000 mg (1,500 mg twice daily).
Levetiracetam Oral Solution, USP Weight-Based Dosing Calculation For Pediatric Patients The following calculation should be used to determine the appropriate daily dose of oral solution for pediatric patients: Total daily dose (mL/day) = Daily dose (mg/kg/day) x patient weight(kg) 100 mg/mL Dosing For Myoclonic Seizures In Patients 12 Years Of Age And Older With Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy Initiate treatment with a dose of 1,000 mg/day, given as twice-daily dosing (500 mg twice daily).
Increase the dosage by 1,000 mg/day every 2 weeks to the recommended daily dose of 3,000 mg.
The effectiveness of doses lower than 3,000 mg/day has not been studied.
Dosing For Primary Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures Adults 16 Years And Older Initiate treatment with a dose of 1,000 mg/day, given as twice-daily dosing (500 mg twice daily).
Increase dosage by 1,000 mg/day every 2 weeks to the recommended daily dose of 3,000 mg.
The effectiveness of doses lower than 3,000 mg/day has not been adequately studied.
Pediatric Patients Ages 6 To <16 Years Initiate treatment with a daily dose of 20 mg/kg in 2 divided doses (10 mg/kg twice daily).
Increase the daily dose every 2 weeks by increments of 20 mg/kg to the recommended daily dose of 60 mg/kg (30 mg/kg twice daily).
The effectiveness of doses lower than 60 mg/kg/day has not been adequately studied.
Patients with body weight ≤20 kg should be dosed with oral solution.
Patients with body weight above 20 kg can be dosed with either tablets or oral solution [see Important Administration Instructions].
Only whole tablets should be administered.
Dosage Adjustments In Adult Patients With Renal Impairment ROWEEPRA dosing must be individualized according to the patient’s renal function status.
Recommended dosage adjustments for adults are shown in Table 1.
In order to calculate the dose recommended for patients with renal impairment, creatinine clearance adjusted for body surface area must be calculated.
To do this an estimate of the patient’s creatinine clearance (CLcr) in mL/min must first be calculated using the following formula: CLcr = [140-age (years)] x weight (kg) 72 x serum creatinine (mg/dL) x 0.85 for female patients) Then CLcr is adjusted for body surface area (BSA) as follows: CLcr (mL/min) = CLcr (mL/min/1.73m2) BSA subject (m2) x 1.73 Table 1: Dosing Adjustment Regimen for Adult Patients with Renal Impairment Group Creatinine Clearance (mL/min/1.73m2) Dosage (mg) Frequency Normal > 80 500 to 1,500 Every 12 hours Mild 50 – 80 500 to 1,000 Every 12 hours Moderate 30 – 50 250 to 750 Every 12 hours Severe < 30 250 to 500 Every 12 hours ESRD patients using dialysis - 500 to 1,0001 Every 24 hours1 1 Following dialysis, a 250 to 500 mg supplemental dose is ecommended.
HOW SUPPLIED Dosage Forms And Strengths ROWEEPRA 500 mg tablets are yellow to light yellow, oval, film-coated tablets, bisect debossed with logo “OWP” and “500” on one side.
The other side is blank.
Storage And Handling ROWEEPRA 500 mg tablets are yellow to light yellow, oval, film-coated tablets, bisect debossed with logo “OWP” and “500” on one side.
The other side is blank.
They are supplied in white HDPE bottles containing 120 tablets (NDC 69102-101-01).
Storage Store at 25°C (77°F); excursions permitted to 15 to 30°C (59 to 86°F) [see USP Controlled Room Temperature].
Manufactured By: Lotus Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Nantou Plant, No.
30 Chenggong 1st Rd., Sinsing Village, Nantou City, Nantou County 54066, Taiwan.
Revised: Nov 2015
Indications & Dosage INDICATIONS Partial Onset Seizures Levetiracetam injection, USP is indicated as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial onset seizures in adults and children 1 month of age and older with epilepsy.
Levetiracetam injection, USP is for intravenous use only as an alternative for patients when oral administration is temporarily not feasible.
Myoclonic Seizures In Patients With Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy Levetiracetam injection, USP is indicated as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of myoclonic seizures in adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.
Levetiracetam injection, USP is for intravenous use only as an alternative for patients when oral administration is temporarily not feasible.
Primary Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures Levetiracetam injection, USP is indicated as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in adults and children 6 years of age and older with idiopathic generalized epilepsy.
Levetiracetam injection, USP is for intravenous use only as an alternative for patients when oral administration is temporarily not feasible.
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Dosing For Partial Onset Seizures Adults 16 Years And Older Initiate treatment with a daily dose of 1000 mg/day, given as twice-daily dosing (500 mg twice daily).
Additional dosing increments may be given (1000 mg/day additional every 2 weeks) to a maximum recommended daily dose of 3000 mg.
There is no evidence that doses greater than 3000 mg/day confer additional benefit.
Sections or subsections omitted from the full prescribing information are not listed.
Pediatric Patients 1 Month to < 6 Months Initiate treatment with a daily dose of 14 mg/kg in 2 divided doses (7 mg/kg twice daily).
Increase the daily dose every 2 weeks by increments of 14 mg/kg to the recommended daily dose of 42 mg/kg (21 mg/kg twice daily).
In the clinical trial, the mean daily dose was 35 mg/kg in this age group.
The effectiveness of lower doses has not been studied.
6 Months to < 4 Years Initiate treatment with a daily dose of 20 mg/kg in 2 divided doses (10 mg/kg twice daily).
Increase the daily dose in 2 weeks by an increment of 20 mg/kg to the recommended daily dose of 50 mg/kg (25 mg/kg twice daily).
If a patient cannot tolerate a daily dose of 50 mg/kg, the daily dose may be reduced.
In the clinical trial, the mean daily dose was 47 mg/kg in this age group.
4 Years to < 16 Years Initiate treatment with a daily dose of 20 mg/kg in 2 divided doses (10 mg/kg twice daily).
Increase the daily dose every 2 weeks by increments of 20 mg/kg to the recommended daily dose of 60 mg/kg (30 mg/kg twice daily).
If a patient cannot tolerate a daily dose of 60 mg/kg, the daily dose may be reduced.
In the clinical trial, the mean daily dose was 44 mg/kg.
The maximum daily dose was 3000 mg/day.
Dosing For Myoclonic Seizures In Patients With Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy Initiate treatment with a dose of 1000 mg/day, given as twice-daily dosing (500 mg twice daily).
Increase the dosage by 1000 mg/day every 2 weeks to the recommended daily dose of 3000 mg.
The effectiveness of doses lower than 3000 mg/day has not been studied.
Dosing For Primary Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures Adults 16 Years And Older Initiate treatment with a dose of 1000 mg/day, given as twice-daily dosing (500 mg twice daily).
Increase dosage by 1000 mg/day every 2 weeks to the recommended daily dose of 3000 mg.
The effectiveness of doses lower than 3000 mg/day has not been adequately studied.
Pediatric Patients Ages 6 To < 16 Years Initiate treatment with a daily dose of 20 mg/kg in 2 divided doses (10 mg/kg twice daily).
Increase the daily dose every 2 weeks by increments of 20 mg/kg (10 mg/kg twice daily) to the recommended daily dose of 60 mg/kg (30 mg/kg twice daily).
The effectiveness of doses lower than 60 mg/kg/day has not been adequately studied.
Switching From Oral Dosing When switching from oral levetiracetam, the initial total daily intravenous dosage of levetiracetam injection should be equivalent to the total daily dosage and frequency of oral levetiracetam.
Switching To Oral Dosing At the end of the intravenous treatment period, the patient may be switched to levetiracetam oral administration at the equivalent daily dosage and frequency of the intravenous administration.
Preparation And Administration Instructions Levetiracetam injection is for intravenous use only and should be diluted in 100 mL of a compatible diluent prior to administration.
If a smaller volume is required (e.g.
pediatric patients), the amount of diluent should be calculated to not exceed a maximum levetiracetam concentration of 15 mg per mL of diluted solution.
Consideration should also be given to the total daily fluid intake of the patient.
Levetiracetam injection should be administered as a 15-minute IV infusion.
One vial of levetiracetam injection contains 500 mg levetiracetam (500 mg/5 mL).
Levetiracetam injection may be mixed with the following diluents and antiepileptic drugs and may be stored in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) bags.
The diluted solution should not be stored for more than 4 hours at controlled room temperature [15-30°C (59-86°F)].
Diluents Sodium chloride (0.9%) injection, USP Lactated Ringer's injection Dextrose 5% injection, USP Other Antiepileptic Drugs Lorazepam Diazepam Valproate sodium There are no data to support the physical compatibility of levetiracetam injection with antiepileptic drugs that are not listed above.
Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration whenever solution and container permit.
Product with particulate matter or discoloration should not be used.
Any unused portion of the levetiracetam injection vial contents should be discarded.
Adults See Table 1 for the recommended preparation and administration of levetiracetam injection for adults to achieve a dose of 500 mg, 1000 mg, or 1500 mg.
Table 1: Preparation and Administration of Levetiracetam Injection for Adults Dose Withdraw Volume Volume of Diluent Infusion Time 500 mg 5 mL (5 mL vial) 100 mL 15 minutes 1000 mg 10 mL (two 5 mL vials) 100 mL 15 minutes 1500 mg 15 mL (three 5 mL vials) 100 mL 15 minutes For example, to prepare a 1000 mg dose, dilute 10 mL of levetiracetam injection in 100 mL of a compatible diluent and administer intravenously as a 15-minute infusion.
Pediatric Patients When using levetiracetam injection for pediatric patients, dosing is weight-based (mg per kg).
The following calculation should be used to determine the appropriate daily dose of levetiracetam injection for pediatric patients: Total daily dose (mL/day) (kg) = Daily dose (mg/kg/day) x patient weight/ 100 mg/mL Dosage Adjustments In Adult Patients With Renal Impairment Levetiracetam dosing must be individualized according to the patient's renal function status.
Recommended dosage adjustments for adults with renal impairment are shown in Table 2.
Information is unavailable for dosage adjustments in pediatric patients with renal impairment.
In order to calculate the dose recommended for adult patients with renal impairment, creatinine clearance adjusted for body surface area must be calculated.
To do this an estimate of the patient's creatinine clearance (CLcr) in mL/min must first be calculated using the following formula: Males: (weight in kg) x (140 – age) (72) x serum creatinine (mg/100 mL) Females (0.85) x (above value) Then CLcr is adjusted for body surface area (BSA) as follows: CLcr (mL/min/1.73m²) = CLcr (mL/min) x 1.73 BSA subject (m²) Table 2: Dosage Adjustment Regimen for Adult Patients with Renal Impairment Group Creatinine Clearance (mL/min/1.73m²) Dosage (mg) Frequency Normal > 80 500 to 1,500 Every 12 hours Mild 50 - 80 500 to 1,000 Every 12 hours Moderate 30 - 50 250 to 750 Every 12 hours Severe < 30 250 to 500 Every 12 hours ESRD patients using dialysis - 500 to 1,0001 Every 24 hours1 1 Following dialysis, a 250 to 500 mg supplemental dose is recommended HOW SUPPLIED Dosage Forms And Strengths One vial of levetiracetam injection contains 500 mg levetiracetam (500 mg/5 mL).
Storage And Handling Levetiracetam injection, USP 500 mg/5 mL is a clear, colorless, sterile solution.
It is supplied in singleuse 5 mL vial (NDC 59746-591-01), available in carton of 10 vials (NDC 59746-591-10).
Storage Store at 20°C-25°C (68°F-77°F), excursions permitted to 15°C-30°C (59°F-86°F) [See USP Controlled Room Temperature].
Manufactured by: Jubilant HollisterStier LLC, Spokane, WA 99207, USA.
Distributed by: Jubilant Cadista Pharmaceuticals Inc., Salisbury, MD-21801, USA.
Revised: June 2016
Indications & Dosage INDICATIONS Partial Onset Seizures KEPPRA is indicated as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial onset seizures in adults and children 1 month of age and older with epilepsy.
KEPPRA injection is for intravenous use only as an alternative for patients when oral administration is temporarily not feasible.
Myoclonic Seizures In Patients With Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy KEPPRA is indicated as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of myoclonic seizures in adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.
KEPPRA injection is for intravenous use only as an alternative for patients when oral administration is temporarily not feasible.
Primary Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures KEPPRA is indicated as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in adults and children 6 years of age and older with idiopathic generalized epilepsy.
KEPPRA injection is for intravenous use only as an alternative for patients when oral administration is temporarily not feasible.
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Dosing For Partial Onset Seizures Adults 16 Years And Older Initiate treatment with a daily dose of 1000 mg/day, given as twice-daily dosing (500 mg twice daily).
Additional dosing increments may be given (1000 mg/day additional every 2 weeks) to a maximum recommended daily dose of 3000 mg.
There is no evidence that doses greater than 3000 mg/day confer additional benefit.
Pediatric Patients 1 Month To < 6 Months Initiate treatment with a daily dose of 14 mg/kg in 2 divided doses (7 mg/kg twice daily).
Increase the daily dose every 2 weeks by increments of 14 mg/kg to the recommended daily dose of 42 mg/kg (21 mg/kg twice daily).
In the clinical trial, the mean daily dose was 35 mg/kg in this age group.
The effectiveness of lower doses has not been studied.
6 Months To < 4 Years Initiate treatment with a daily dose of 20 mg/kg in 2 divided doses (10 mg/kg twice daily).
Increase the daily dose in 2 weeks by an increment of 20 mg/kg to the recommended daily dose of 50 mg/kg (25 mg/kg twice daily).
If a patient cannot tolerate a daily dose of 50 mg/kg, the daily dose may be reduced.
In the clinical trial, the mean daily dose was 47 mg/kg in this age group.
4 Years To < 16 Years Initiate treatment with a daily dose of 20 mg/kg in 2 divided doses (10 mg/kg twice daily).
Increase the daily dose every 2 weeks by increments of 20 mg/kg to the recommended daily dose of 60 mg/kg (30 mg/kg twice daily).
If a patient cannot tolerate a daily dose of 60 mg/kg, the daily dose may be reduced.
In the clinical trial, the mean daily dose was 44 mg/kg.
The maximum daily dose was 3000 mg/day.
Dosing For Myoclonic Seizures In Patients With Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy Initiate treatment with a dose of 1000 mg/day, given as twice-daily dosing (500 mg twice daily).
Increase the dosage by 1000 mg/day every 2 weeks to the recommended daily dose of 3000 mg.
The effectiveness of doses lower than 3000 mg/day has not been studied.
Dosing For Primary Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures Adults 16 Years And Older Initiate treatment with a dose of 1000 mg/day, given as twice-daily dosing (500 mg twice daily).
Increase dosage by 1000 mg/day every 2 weeks to the recommended daily dose of 3000 mg.
The effectiveness of doses lower than 3000 mg/day has not been adequately studied.
Pediatric Patients Ages 6 To < 16 Years Initiate treatment with a daily dose of 20 mg/kg in 2 divided doses (10 mg/kg twice daily).
Increase the daily dose every 2 weeks by increments of 20 mg/kg (10 mg/kg twice daily) to the recommended daily dose of 60 mg/kg (30 mg/kg twice daily).
The effectiveness of doses lower than 60 mg/kg/day has not been adequately studied.
Switching From Oral Dosing When switching from oral KEPPRA, the initial total daily intravenous dosage of KEPPRA should be equivalent to the total daily dosage and frequency of oral KEPPRA.
Switching To Oral Dosing At the end of the intravenous treatment period, the patient may be switched to KEPPRA oral administration at the equivalent daily dosage and frequency of the intravenous administration.
Preparation And Administration Instructions KEPPRA injection is for intravenous use only and should be diluted in 100 mL of a compatible diluent prior to administration.
If a smaller volume is required (e.g.
pediatric patients), the amount of diluent should be calculated to not exceed a maximum levetiracetam concentration of 15 mg per mL of diluted solution.
Consideration should also be given to the total daily fluid intake of the patient.
KEPPRA injection should be administered as a 15-minute IV infusion.
One vial of KEPPRA injection contains 500 mg levetiracetam (500 mg/5 mL).
KEPPRA injection may be mixed with the following diluents and antiepileptic drugs and may be stored in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) bags.
The diluted solution should not be stored for more than 4 hours at controlled room temperature [15-30°C (59-86°F)].
Diluents Sodium chloride (0.9%) injection, USP Lactated Ringer's injection Dextrose 5% injection, USP Other Antiepileptic Drugs Lorazepam Diazepam Valproate sodium There are no data to support the physical compatibility of KEPPRA injection with antiepileptic drugs that are not listed above.
Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration whenever solution and container permit.
Product with particulate matter or discoloration should not be used.
Any unused portion of the KEPPRA injection vial contents should be discarded.
Adults See Table 1 for the recommended preparation and administration of KEPPRA injection for adults to achieve a dose of 500 mg, 1000 mg, or 1500 mg.
Table 1: Preparation and Administration of KEPPRA Injection for Adults Dose Withdraw Volume Volume of Diluent Infusion Time 500 mg 5 mL (5 mL vial) 100 mL 15 minutes 1000 mg 10 mL (two 5 mL vials) 100 mL 15 minutes 1500 mg 15 mL (three 5 mL vials) 100 mL 15 minutes For example, to prepare a 1000 mg dose, dilute 10 mL of KEPPRA injection in 100 mL of a compatible diluent and administer intravenously as a 15-minute infusion.
Pediatric Patients When using KEPPRA injection for pediatric patients, dosing is weight-based (mg per kg).
The following calculation should be used to determine the appropriate daily dose of KEPPRA injection for pediatric patients: Total daily dose (mL/day) = Daily dose (mg/kg/day) × patient weight (kg)/ 100 mg/mL Dosage Adjustments In Adult Patients With Renal Impairment KEPPRA dosing must be individualized according to the patient's renal function status.
Recommended dosage adjustments for adults with renal impairment are shown in Table 2.
Information is unavailable for dosage adjustments in pediatric patients with renal impairment.
In order to calculate the dose recommended for adult patients with renal impairment, creatinine clearance adjusted for body surface area must be calculated.
To do this an estimate of the patient's creatinine clearance (CLcr) in mL/min must first be calculated using the following formula: Males: (weight in kg) x (140 – age) (72) x serum creatinine (mg/100 mL) Females: (0.85) x (above value) Then CLcr is adjusted for body surface area (BSA) as follows: CLcr (mL/min/1.73m²)= CLcr(mL/min)/BAS subject (m²) x 1.73 BAS subject (m²) Table 2: Dosage Adjustment Regimen for Adult Patients with Renal Impairment Group Creatinine Clearance (mL/min/1.73m²) Dosage (mg) Frequency Normal > 80 500 to 1,500 Every 12 hours Mild 50 - 80 500 to 1,000 Every 12 hours Moderate 30 - 50 250 to 750 Every 12 hours Severe < 30 250 to 500 Every 12 hours ESRD patients using dialysis 500 to 1,000* Every 24 hours* *Following dialysis, a 250 to 500 mg supplemental dose is recommended.
HOW SUPPLIED Dosage Forms And Strengths One vial of KEPPRA injection contains 500 mg levetiracetam (500 mg/5 mL).
Storage And Handling KEPPRA (levetiracetam) 500 mg/5 mL injection is a clear, colorless, sterile solution.
It is supplied in single-use 5 mL vials, available in cartons of 10 vials (NDC 50474-002-63).
Storage Store at 25°C (77°F); excursions permitted to 15-30°C (59-86°F) [see USP Controlled Room Temperature].
KEPPRA injection manufactured for UCB, Inc., Smyrna, GA 30080.
Revised: Apr 2016
Indications & Dosage INDICATIONS Partial Onset Seizures KEPPRA is indicated as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial onset seizures in adults and children 1 month of age and older with epilepsy.
Myoclonic Seizures In Patients With Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy KEPPRA is indicated as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of myoclonic seizures in adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.
Primary Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures KEPPRA is indicated as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in adults and children 6 years of age and older with idiopathic generalized epilepsy.
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Important Administration Instructions KEPPRA is given orally with or without food.
The KEPPRA dosing regimen depends on the indication, age group, dosage form (tablets or oral solution), and renal function.
Prescribe the oral solution for pediatric patients with body weight ≤ 20 kg.
Prescribe the oral solution or tablets for pediatric patients with body weight above 20 kg.
When using the oral solution in pediatric patients, dosing is weight-based (mg per kg) using a calibrated measuring device (not a household teaspoon or tablespoon).
KEPPRA tablets should be swallowed whole.
KEPPRA tablets should not be chewed or crushed.
Dosing For Partial Onset Seizures Adults 16 Years And Older Initiate treatment with a daily dose of 1000 mg/day, given as twice-daily dosing (500 mg twice daily).
Additional dosing increments may be given (1000 mg/day additional every 2 weeks) to a maximum recommended daily dose of 3000 mg.
There is no evidence that doses greater than 3000 mg/day confer additional benefit.
Pediatric Patients 1 Month To < 6 Months Initiate treatment with a daily dose of 14 mg/kg in 2 divided doses (7 mg/kg twice daily).
Increase the daily dose every 2 weeks by increments of 14 mg/kg to the recommended daily dose of 42 mg/kg (21 mg/kg twice daily).
In the clinical trial, the mean daily dose was 35 mg/kg in this age group.
The effectiveness of lower doses has not been studied.
6 Months To <4 Years Initiate treatment with a daily dose of 20 mg/kg in 2 divided doses (10 mg/kg twice daily).
Increase the daily dose in 2 weeks by an increment of 20 mg/kg to the recommended daily dose of 50 mg/kg (25 mg/kg twice daily).
If a patient cannot tolerate a daily dose of 50 mg/kg, the daily dose may be reduced.
In the clinical trial, the mean daily dose was 47 mg/kg in this age group.
4 Years To < 16 Years Initiate treatment with a daily dose of 20 mg/kg in 2 divided doses (10 mg/kg twice daily).
Increase the daily dose every 2 weeks by increments of 20 mg/kg to the recommended daily dose of 60 mg/kg (30 mg/kg twice daily).
If a patient cannot tolerate a daily dose of 60 mg/kg, the daily dose may be reduced.
In the clinical trial, the mean daily dose was 44 mg/kg.
The maximum daily dose was 3000 mg/day.
For KEPPRA tablet dosing in pediatric patients weighing 20 to 40 kg, initiate treatment with a daily dose of 500 mg given as twice daily dosing (250 mg twice daily).
Increase the daily dose every 2 weeks by increments of 500 mg to a maximum recommended daily dose of 1500 mg (750 mg twice daily).
For KEPPRA tablet dosing in pediatric patients weighing more than 40 kg, initiate treatment with a daily dose of 1000 mg/day given as twice daily dosing (500 mg twice daily).
Increase the daily dose every 2 weeks by increments of 1000 mg/day to a maximum recommended daily dose of 3000 mg (1500 mg twice daily).
KEPPRA Oral Solution Weight-Based Dosing Calculation For Pediatric Patients The following calculation should be used to determine the appropriate daily dose of oral solution for pediatric patients: Total daily dose (mL/day) = Daily dose (mg/kg/day) x patient weight (kg) 100 mg/mL Dosing For Myoclonic Seizures In Patients 12 Years Of Age And Older With Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy Initiate treatment with a dose of 1000 mg/day, given as twice-daily dosing (500 mg twice daily).
Increase the dosage by 1000 mg/day every 2 weeks to the recommended daily dose of 3000 mg.
The effectiveness of doses lower than 3000 mg/day has not been studied.
Dosing For Primary Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures Adults 16 Years And Older Initiate treatment with a dose of 1000 mg/day, given as twice-daily dosing (500 mg twice daily).
Increase dosage by 1000 mg/day every 2 weeks to the recommended daily dose of 3000 mg.
The effectiveness of doses lower than 3000 mg/day has not been adequately studied.
Pediatric Patients Ages 6 To <16 Years Initiate treatment with a daily dose of 20 mg/kg in 2 divided doses (10 mg/kg twice daily).
Increase the daily dose every 2 weeks by increments of 20 mg/kg to the recommended daily dose of 60 mg/kg (30 mg/kg twice daily).
The effectiveness of doses lower than 60 mg/kg/day has not been adequately studied.
Patients with body weight ≤ 20 kg should be dosed with oral solution.
Patients with body weight above 20 kg can be dosed with either tablets or oral solution [see Important Administration Instructions].
Only whole tablets should be administered.
Dosage Adjustments In Adult Patients With Renal Impairment KEPPRA dosing must be individualized according to the patient's renal function status.
Recommended dosage adjustments for adults are shown in Table 1.
In order to calculate the dose recommended for patients with renal impairment, creatinine clearance adjusted for body surface area must be calculated.
To do this an estimate of the patient's creatinine clearance (CLcr) in mL/min must first be calculated using the following formula: Males: (weight in kg) x (140 – age) (72) x serum creatinine (mg/100 mL) Females: (0.85) x (above value) Then CLcr is adjusted for body surface area (BSA) as follows: CLcr (mL/min/1.73m²)= CLcr (mL/min) x 1.73 BSA subject (m²) Table 1: Dosing Adjustment Regimen for Adult Patients with Renal Impairment Group Creatinine Clearance (mL/min/1.73m²) Dosage (mg) Frequency Normal > 80 500 to 1,500 Every 12 hours Mild 50 - 80 500 to 1,000 Every 12 hours Moderate 30 - 50 250 to 750 Every 12 hours Severe < 30 250 to 500 Every 12 hours ESRD patients using dialysis - 500 to 1,0001 Every 24 hours1 1 Following dialysis, a 250 to 500 mg supplemental dose is recommended.
HOW SUPPLIED Dosage Forms And Strengths KEPPRA 250 mg tablets are blue, oblong-shaped, scored, film-coated, and debossed with “ucb 250” on one side.
KEPPRA 500 mg tablets are yellow, oblong-shaped, scored, film-coated, and debossed with “ucb 500” on one side.
KEPPRA 750 mg tablets are orange, oblong-shaped, scored, film-coated, and debossed with “ucb 750” on one side.
KEPPRA 1000 mg tablets are white, oblong-shaped, scored, film-coated, and debossed with “ucb 1000” on one side.
KEPPRA 100 mg/mL oral solution is a clear, colorless, grape-flavored liquid.
Storage And Handling KEPPRA 250 mg tablets are blue, oblong-shaped, scored, film-coated tablets debossed with “ucb 250” on one side.
They are supplied in white HDPE bottles containing 120 tablets (NDC 50474-594-40).
KEPPRA 500 mg tablets are yellow, oblong-shaped, scored, film-coated tablets debossed with “ucb 500” on one side.
They are supplied in white HDPE bottles containing 120 tablets (NDC 50474-595-40).
KEPPRA 750 mg tablets are orange, oblong-shaped, scored, film-coated tablets debossed with “ucb 750” on one side.
They are supplied in white HDPE bottles containing 120 tablets (NDC 50474-596-40).
KEPPRA 1000 mg tablets are white, oblong-shaped, scored, film-coated tablets debossed with “ucb 1000” on one side.
They are supplied in white HDPE bottles containing 60 tablets (NDC 50474-597-66).
KEPPRA 100 mg/mL oral solution is a clear, colorless, grape-flavored liquid.
It is supplied in 16 fl.
oz.
white HDPE bottles (NDC 50474-001-48).
Storage Store at 25°C (77°F); excursions permitted to 15 to 30°C (59 to 86°F) [see USP Controlled Room Temperature].
KEPPRA Tablets and KEPPRA Oral Solution manufactured for UCB, Inc., Smyrna, GA 30080.
Revised : Oct 2017
Medication Guide PATIENT INFORMATION ROWEEPRA (ROW ee pra) (Levetiracetam) Tablets, USP Read this Medication Guide before you start taking ROWEEPRA and each time you get a refill.
There may be new information.
This information does not take the place of talking to your healthcare provider about your medical condition or treatment.
What is the most important information I should know about ROWEEPRA? Like other antiepileptic drugs, ROWEEPRA may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people, about 1 in 500 people taking it.
Call a healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you: thoughts about suicide or dying attempts to commit suicide new or worse depression new or worse anxiety feeling agitated or restless panic attacks trouble sleeping (insomnia) new or worse irritability acting aggressive, being angry, or violent acting on dangerous impulses an extreme increase in activity and talking (mania) other unusual changes in behavior or mood Do not stop ROWEEPRA without first talking to a healthcare provider.
Stopping ROWEEPRA suddenly can cause serious problems.
Stopping a seizure medicine suddenly can cause seizures that will not stop (status epilepticus).
Suicidal thoughts or actions can be caused by things other than medicines.
If you have suicidal thoughts or actions, your healthcare provider may check for other causes.
How can I watch for early symptoms of suicidal thoughts and actions? Pay attention to any changes, especially sudden changes, in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings.
Keep all follow-up visits with your healthcare provider as scheduled.
Call your healthcare provider between visits as needed, especially if you are worried about symptoms.
What is ROWEEPRA? ROWEEPRA is a prescription medicine taken by mouth that is used with other medicines to treat: partial onset seizures in people 1 month of age and older withepilepsy myoclonic seizures in people 12 years of age and older with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in people 6 years of age and older with certain types of generalized epilepsy.
It is not known if ROWEEPRA is safe or effective in children under 1 month of age.
Before taking your medicine, make sure you have received the correct medicine.
Compare the name above with the name on your bottle and the appearance of your medicine with the description of ROWEEPRA provided below.
Tell your pharmacist immediately if you think you have been given the wrong medicine.
500 mg ROWEEPRA tablets are yellow to light yellow, oval, film-coated tablets, bisect debossed with logo “OWP” and “500” on one side.
The other side is blank.
What should I tell my healthcare provider before starting ROWEEPRA? Before taking ROWEEPRA, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you: have or have had depression, mood problems or suicidal thoughts or behavior have kidney problems are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
It is not known if ROWEEPRA will harm your unborn baby.
You and your healthcare provider will have to decide if you should take ROWEEPRA while you are pregnant.
If you become pregnant while taking ROWEEPRA, talk to your healthcare provider about registering with the North American Antiepileptic Drug Pregnancy Registry.
You can enroll in this registry by calling 1-888-233-2334.
The purpose of this registry is to collect information about the safety of ROWEEPRA and other antiepileptic medicine during pregnancy.
are breast feeding.
ROWEEPRA can pass into your milk and may harm your baby.
You and your healthcare provider should discuss whether you should take ROWEEPRA or breast-feed; you should not do both.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Do not start a new medicine without first talking with your healthcare provider.
Know the medicines you take.
Keep a list of them to show your healthcare provider and pharmacist each time you get a new medicine.
How should I take ROWEEPRA? Take ROWEEPRA exactly as prescribed.
Your healthcare provider will tell you how much ROWEEPRA to take and when to take it.
ROWEEPRA is usually taken twice a day.
Take ROWEEPRA at the same times each day.
Your healthcare provider may change your dose.
Do not change your dose without talking to your healthcare provider.
Take ROWEEPRA with or without food.
Swallow the tablets whole.
Do not chew or crush tablets.
Ask your healthcare provider for Levetiracetam oral solution if you cannot swallow tablets.
If your healthcare provider has prescribed Levetiracetam oral solution, be sure to ask your pharmacist for a medicine dropper or medicine cup to help you measure the correct amount of Levetiracetam oral solution.
Do not use a household teaspoon.
Ask your pharmacist for instructions on how to use the measuring device the right way.
If you miss a dose of ROWEEPRA, take it as soon as you remember.
If it is almost time for your next dose, just skip the missed dose.
Take the next dose at your regular time.
Do not take two doses at the same time.
If you take too much ROWEEPRA, call your local Poison Control Center or go to the nearest emergency room right away.
What should I avoid while taking ROWEEPRA? Do not drive, operate machinery or do other dangerous activities until you know how ROWEEPRA affects you.
ROWEEPRA may make you dizzy or sleepy.
What are the possible side effects of ROWEEPRA? See “What is the most important information I should know about ROWEEPRA?” ROWEEPRA can cause serious side effects.
Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms: mood and behavior changes such as aggression, agitation, anger, anxiety, apathy, mood swings, depression, hostility, and irritability.
A few people may get psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are really not there), delusions (false or strange thoughts or beliefs) and unusual behavior.
extreme sleepiness, tiredness, and weakness problems with muscle coordination (problems walking and moving) a skin rash.
Serious skin rashes can happen after you start taking ROWEEPRA.
There is no way to tell if a mild rash will become a serious reaction.
The most common side effects seen in people who take ROWEEPRA include: sleepiness weakness infection dizziness The most common side effects seen in children who take ROWEEPRA include, in addition to those listed above: tiredness acting aggressive nasal congestion decreased appetite irritability These side effects can happen at any time but happen more often within the first 4 weeks of treatment except for infection.
Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.
These are not all the possible side effects of ROWEEPRA.
For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
How should I store ROWEEPRA? Store ROWEEPRA at room temperature, 59°F to 86°F (15°C to 30°C) away from heat and light.
Keep ROWEEPRA and all medicines out of the reach of children.
General information about ROWEEPRA.
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide.
Do not use ROWEEPRA for a condition for which it was not prescribed.
Do not give ROWEEPRA to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have.
It may harm them.
This Medication Guide summarizes the most important information about ROWEEPRA.
If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider.
You can ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider for information about ROWEEPRA that is written for health professionals.
You can call 1-800-273-6729 to get information about ROWEEPRA.
What are the ingredients of ROWEEPRA? ROWEEPRA tablets active ingredient: levetiracetam.
Inactive ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide, corn starch, hypromellose, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, povidone, titanium dioxide, triacetin and iron oxide yellow.
ROWEEPRA does not contain gluten.
This Medication Guide has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.
Medication Guide PATIENT INFORMATION Suicidal Behavior And Ideation Counsel patients, their caregivers, and/or families that antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), including levetiracetam, may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior and advise patients to be alert for the emergence or worsening of symptoms of depression; unusual changes in mood or behavior; or suicidal thoughts, behavior, or thoughts about self-harm.
Advise patients, their caregivers, and/or families to immediately report behaviors of concern to a healthcare provider.
Psychiatric Reactions And Changes In Behavior Advise patients and their caregivers that levetiracetam may cause changes in behavior (e.g., aggression, agitation, anger, anxiety, apathy, depression, hostility, and irritability) and psychotic symptoms.
Effects On Driving Or Operating Machinery Inform patients that levetiracetam may cause dizziness and somnolence.
Inform patients not to drive or operate machinery until they have gained sufficient experience on levetiracetam to gauge whether it adversely affects their ability to drive or operate machinery.
Dermatological Adverse Reactions Advise patients that serious dermatological adverse reactions have occurred in patients treated with levetiracetam and instruct them to call their physician immediately if a rash develops.
Pregnancy Advise patients to notify their healthcare provider if they become pregnant or intend to become pregnant during levetiracetam therapy.
Encourage patients to enroll in the North American Antiepileptic Drug (NAAED) pregnancy registry if they become pregnant.
This registry is collecting information about the safety of antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy.
To enroll, patients can call the toll free number 1-888- 233-2334.
[see Use In Specific Populations].
Medication Guide PATIENT INFORMATION Suicidal Behavior And Ideation Counsel patients, their caregivers, and/or families that antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), including KEPPRA, may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior and advise patients to be alert for the emergence or worsening of symptoms of depression; unusual changes in mood or behavior; or suicidal thoughts, behavior, or thoughts about self-harm.
Advise patients, their caregivers, and/or families to immediately report behaviors of concern to a healthcare provider.
Psychiatric Reactions And Changes In Behavior Advise patients and their caregivers that KEPPRA may cause changes in behavior (e.g., aggression, agitation, anger, anxiety, apathy, depression, hostility, and irritability) and psychotic symptoms.
Effects On Driving Or Operating Machinery Inform patients that KEPPRA may cause dizziness and somnolence.
Inform patients not to drive or operate machinery until they have gained sufficient experience on KEPPRA to gauge whether it adversely affects their ability to drive or operate machinery.
Dermatological Adverse Reactions Advise patients that serious dermatological adverse reactions have occurred in patients treated with KEPPRA and instruct them to call their physician immediately if a rash develops.
Pregnancy Advise patients to notify their healthcare provider if they become pregnant or intend to become pregnant during KEPPRA therapy.
Encourage patients to enroll in the North American Antiepileptic Drug (NAAED) pregnancy registry if they become pregnant.
This registry is collecting information about the safety of antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy.
To enroll, patients can call the toll free number 1-888-233-2334 [see Use In Specific Populations].
Medication Guide PATIENT INFORMATION KEPPRA® (KEPP-ruh) (levetiracetam) Tablets and Oral Solution Read this Medication Guide before you start taking KEPPRA and each time you get a refill.
There may be new information.
This information does not take the place of talking to your healthcare provider about your medical condition or treatment.
What is the most important information I should know about KEPPRA? Like other antiepileptic drugs, KEPPRA may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people, about 1 in 500 people taking it.
Call a healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you: thoughts about suicide or dying attempts to commit suicide new or worse depression new or worse anxiety feeling agitated or restless panic attacks trouble sleeping (insomnia) new or worse irritability acting aggressive, being angry, or violent acting on dangerous impulses an extreme increase in activity and talking (mania) other unusual changes in behavior or mood Do not stop KEPPRA without first talking to a healthcare provider.
Stopping KEPPRA suddenly can cause serious problems.
Stopping a seizure medicine suddenly can cause seizures that will not stop (status epilepticus).
Suicidal thoughts or actions can be caused by things other than medicines.
If you have suicidal thoughts or actions, your healthcare provider may check for other causes.
How can I watch for early symptoms of suicidal thoughts and actions? Pay attention to any changes, especially sudden changes, in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings.
Keep all follow-up visits with your healthcare provider as scheduled.
Call your healthcare provider between visits as needed, especially if you are worried about symptoms.
What is KEPPRA? KEPPRA is a prescription medicine taken by mouth that is used with other medicines to treat: partial onset seizures in people 1 month of age and older with epilepsy myoclonic seizures in people 12 years of age and older with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in people 6 years of age and older with certain types of generalized epilepsy.
It is not known if KEPPRA is safe or effective in children under 1 month of age.
Before taking your medicine, make sure you have received the correct medicine.
Compare the name above with the name on your bottle and the appearance of your medicine with the description of KEPPRA provided below.
Tell your pharmacist immediately if you think you have been given the wrong medicine.
250 mg KEPPRA tablets are blue, oblong-shaped, scored, film-coated tablets marked with “ucb 250” on one side.
500 mg KEPPRA tablets are yellow, oblong-shaped, scored, film-coated tablets marked with “ucb 500” on one side.
750 mg KEPPRA tablets are orange, oblong-shaped, scored, film-coated tablets marked with “ucb 750” on one side.
1000 mg KEPPRA tablets are white, oblong-shaped, scored, film-coated tablets marked with “ucb 1000” on one side.
KEPPRA oral solution is a clear, colorless, grape-flavored liquid.
Who should not take KEPPRA? Do not take KEPPRA if you are allergic to levetiracetam.
What should I tell my healthcare provider before starting KEPPRA? Before taking KEPPRA, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you: have or have had depression, mood problems or suicidal thoughts or behavior have kidney problems are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
It is not known if KEPPRA will harm your unborn baby.
You and your healthcare provider will have to decide if you should take KEPPRA while you are pregnant.
If you become pregnant while taking KEPPRA, talk to your healthcare provider about registering with the North American Antiepileptic Drug Pregnancy Registry.
You can enroll in this registry by calling 1-888-233-2334.
The purpose of this registry is to collect information about the safety of KEPPRA and other antiepileptic medicine during pregnancy.
are breast feeding.
KEPPRA can pass into your milk and may harm your baby.
You and your healthcare provider should discuss whether you should take KEPPRA or breast-feed; you should not do both.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Do not start a new medicine without first talking with your healthcare provider.
Know the medicines you take.
Keep a list of them to show your healthcare provider and pharmacist each time you get a new medicine.
How should I take KEPPRA? Take KEPPRA exactly as prescribed.
Your healthcare provider will tell you how much KEPPRA to take and when to take it.
KEPPRA is usually taken twice a day.
Take KEPPRA at the same times each day.
Your healthcare provider may change your dose.
Do not change your dose without talking to your healthcare provider.
Take KEPPRA with or without food.
Swallow the tablets whole.
Do not chew or crush tablets.
Ask your healthcare provider for KEPPRA oral solution if you cannot swallow tablets.
If your healthcare provider has prescribed KEPPRA oral solution, be sure to ask your pharmacist for a medicine dropper or medicine cup to help you measure the correct amount of KEPPRA oral solution.
Do not use a household teaspoon.
Ask your pharmacist for instructions on how to use the measuring device the right way.
If you miss a dose of KEPPRA, take it as soon as you remember.
If it is almost time for your next dose, just skip the missed dose.
Take the next dose at your regular time.
Do not take two doses at the same time.
If you take too much KEPPRA, call your local Poison Control Center or go to the nearest emergency room right away.
What should I avoid while taking KEPPRA? Do not drive, operate machinery or do other dangerous activities until you know how KEPPRA affects you.
KEPPRA may make you dizzy or sleepy.
What are the possible side effects of KEPPRA? See “What is the most important information I should know about KEPPRA?” KEPPRA can cause serious side effects.
Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms: mood and behavior changes such as aggression, agitation, anger, anxiety, apathy, mood swings, depression, hostility, and irritability.
A few people may get psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are really not there), delusions (false or strange thoughts or beliefs) and unusual behavior.
extreme sleepiness, tiredness, and weakness problems with muscle coordination (problems walking and moving) allergic reactions such as swelling of the face, lips, eyes, tongue, and throat, trouble swallowing or breathing, and hives.
a skin rash.
Serious skin rashes can happen after you start taking KEPPRA.
There is no way to tell if a mild rash will become a serious reaction.
The most common side effects seen in people who take KEPPRA include: sleepiness weakness infection dizziness The most common side effects seen in children who take KEPPRA include, in addition to those listed above: tiredness acting aggressive nasal congestion decreased appetite irritability These side effects can happen at any time but happen more often within the first 4 weeks of treatment except for infection.
Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.
These are not all the possible side effects of KEPPRA.
For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
How should I store KEPPRA? Store KEPPRA at room temperature, 59°F to 86°F (15°C to 30°C) away from heat and light.
Keep KEPPRA and all medicines out of the reach of children.
General information about KEPPRA.
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide.
Do not use KEPPRA for a condition for which it was not prescribed.
Do not give KEPPRA to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have.
It may harm them.
This Medication Guide summarizes the most important information about KEPPRA.
If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider.
You can ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider for information about KEPPRA that is written for health professionals.
You can also get information about KEPPRA at www.keppra.com or call 1- 866-822-0068.
What are the ingredients of KEPPRA? KEPPRA tablet active ingredient: levetiracetam Inactive ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, polyethylene glycol 3350, polyethylene glycol 6000, polyvinyl alcohol, talc, titanium dioxide, and additional agents listed below: 250 mg tablets: FD&C Blue #2/indigo carmine aluminum lake 500 mg tablets: iron oxide yellow 750 mg tablets: FD&C yellow #6/sunset yellow FCF aluminum lake, iron oxide red KEPPRA oral solution active ingredient: levetiracetam Inactive ingredients: ammonium glycyrrhizinate, citric acid monohydrate, glycerin, maltitol solution, methylparaben, potassium acesulfame, propylparaben, purified water, sodium citrate dihydrate and natural and artificial flavor.
KEPPRA does not contain lactose or gluten.
KEPPRA oral solution does contain carbohydrates.
The liquid is dye-free.
This Medication Guide has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.
Overdosage & Contraindications OVERDOSE Signs, Symptoms And Laboratory Findings Of Acute Overdosage In Humans The highest known dose of levetiracetam received in the clinical development program was 6,000 mg/day.
Other than drowsiness, there were no adverse reactions in the few known cases of overdose in clinical trials.
Cases of somnolence, agitation, aggression, depressed level of consciousness, respiratory depression and coma were observed with levetiracetam overdoses in postmarketing use.
Management Of Overdose There is no specific antidote for overdose with levetiracetam.
If indicated, elimination of unabsorbed drug should be attempted by emesis or gastric lavage; usual precautions should be observed to maintain airway.
General supportive care of the patient is indicated including monitoring of vital signs and observation of the patient’s clinical status.
A Certified Poison Control Center should be contacted for up to date information on the management of overdose with levetiracetam.
Hemodialysis Standard hemodialysis procedures result in significant clearance of levetiracetam (approximately 50% in 4 hours) and should be considered in cases of overdose.
Although hemodialysis has not been performed in the few known cases of overdose, it may be indicated by the patient's clinical state or in patients with significant renal impairment.
CONTRAINDICATIONS None.
Overdosage & Contraindications OVERDOSE Signs, Symptoms And Laboratory Findings Of Acute Overdosage In Humans The highest known dose of oral levetiracetam received in the clinical development program was 6000 mg/day.
Other than drowsiness, there were no adverse reactions in the few known cases of overdose in clinical trials.
Cases of somnolence, agitation, aggression, depressed level of consciousness, respiratory depression, and coma were observed with levetiracetam overdoses in postmarketing use.
Management Of Overdose There is no specific antidote for overdose with levetiracetam.
If indicated, elimination of unabsorbed drug should be attempted by emesis or gastric lavage; usual precautions should be observed to maintain airway.
General supportive care of the patient is indicated including monitoring of vital signs and observation of the patient's clinical status.
A Certified Poison Control Center should be contacted for up to date information on the management of overdose with levetiracetam.
Hemodialysis Standard hemodialysis procedures result in significant clearance of levetiracetam (approximately 50% in 4 hours) and should be considered in cases of overdose.
Although hemodialysis has not been performed in the few known cases of overdose, it may be indicated by the patient's clinical state or in patients with significant renal impairment.
CONTRAINDICATIONS None.
Overdosage & Contraindications OVERDOSE Signs, Symptoms And Laboratory Findings Of Acute Overdosage In Humans The highest known dose of oral KEPPRA received in the clinical development program was 6000 mg/day.
Other than drowsiness, there were no adverse reactions in the few known cases of overdose in clinical trials.
Cases of somnolence, agitation, aggression, depressed level of consciousness, respiratory depression, and coma were observed with KEPPRA overdoses in postmarketing use.
Management Of Overdose There is no specific antidote for overdose with KEPPRA.
If indicated, elimination of unabsorbed drug should be attempted by emesis or gastric lavage; usual precautions should be observed to maintain airway.
General supportive care of the patient is indicated including monitoring of vital signs and observation of the patient's clinical status.
A Certified Poison Control Center should be contacted for up to date information on the management of overdose with KEPPRA.
Hemodialysis Standard hemodialysis procedures result in significant clearance of levetiracetam (approximately 50% in 4 hours) and should be considered in cases of overdose.
Although hemodialysis has not been performed in the few known cases of overdose, it may be indicated by the patient's clinical state or in patients with significant renal impairment.
CONTRAINDICATIONS None.
Overdosage & Contraindications OVERDOSE Signs, Symptoms And Laboratory Findings Of Acute Overdosage In Humans The highest known dose of KEPPRA received in the clinical development program was 6000 mg/day.
Other than drowsiness, there were no adverse reactions in the few known cases of overdose in clinical trials.
Cases of somnolence, agitation, aggression, depressed level of consciousness, respiratory depression and coma were observed with KEPPRA overdoses in postmarketing use.
Management Of Overdose There is no specific antidote for overdose with KEPPRA.
If indicated, elimination of unabsorbed drug should be attempted by emesis or gastric lavage; usual precautions should be observed to maintain airway.
General supportive care of the patient is indicated including monitoring of vital signs and observation of the patient's clinical status.
A Certified Poison Control Center should be contacted for up to date information on the management of overdose with KEPPRA.
Hemodialysis Standard hemodialysis procedures result in significant clearance of levetiracetam (approximately 50% in 4 hours) and should be considered in cases of overdose.
Although hemodialysis has not been performed in the few known cases of overdose, it may be indicated by the patient's clinical state or in patients with significant renal impairment.
CONTRAINDICATIONS KEPPRA is contraindicated in patients with a hypersensitivity to levetiracetam.
Reactions have included anaphylaxis and angioedema [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Side Effects & Drug Interactions SIDE EFFECTS The following adverse reactions are discussed in more details in other sections of labeling: Psychiatric Symptoms [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS] Suicidal Behavior and Ideation [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS] Somnolence and Fatigue [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS] Serious Dermatological Reactions [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS] Coordination Difficulties [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS] Hematologic Abnormalities [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS] Increase in Blood Pressure [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS] Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
Partial Onset Seizures Adults In controlled clinical studies in adults with partial onset seizures, the most common adverse reactions in patients receiving levetiracetam in combination with other AEDs, for events with rates greater than placebo, were somnolence, asthenia, infection and dizziness.
Of the most common adverse reactions in adults experiencing partial onset seizures, asthenia, somnolence, and dizziness occurred predominantly during the first 4 weeks of treatment with levetiracetam.
Table 3 lists adverse reactions that occurred in at least 1% of adult epilepsy patients receiving levetiracetam in placebo-controlled studies and were numerically more common than in patients treated with placebo.
In these studies, either levetiracetam or placebo was added to concurrent AED therapy.
Table 3: Adverse Reactions in Pooled Placebo-Controlled, Add-On Studies in Adults Experiencing Partial Onset Seizures Levetiracetam (N=769) % Placebo (N=439) % Asthenia 15 9 Somnolence 15 8 Headache 14 13 Infection 13 8 Dizziness 9 4 Pain 7 6 Pharyngitis 6 4 Depression 4 2 Nervousness 4 2 Rhinitis 4 3 Anorexia 3 2 Ataxia 3 1 Vertigo 3 1 Amnesia 2 1 Anxiety 2 1 Cough Increased 2 1 Diplopia 2 1 Emotional Lability 2 0 Hostility 2 1 Paresthesia 2 1 Sinusitis 2 1 In controlled adult clinical studies, 15% of patients receiving levetiracetam and 12% receiving placebo either discontinued or had a dose reduction as a result of an adverse reaction.
Table 4 lists the most common (>1%) adverse reactions that resulted in discontinuation or dose reduction and that occurred more frequently in levetiracetam-treated patients than in placebo-treated patients.
Table 4: Adverse Reactions that Resulted in Discontinuation or Dose Reduction in Placebo-Controlled Studies in Adult Patients Experiencing Partial Onset Seizures Adverse Reaction Levetiracetam (N=769) % Placebo (N=439) % Somnolence 4 2 Dizziness 1 0 Pediatric Patients 4 Years to <16 Years The adverse reaction data presented below was obtained from a pooled analysis of two controlled pediatric clinical studies in pediatric patients 4 to 16 years of age with partial onset seizures.
The most common adverse reactions in pediatric patients receiving levetiracetam in combination with other AEDs, for events with rates greater than placebo, were fatigue, aggression, nasal congestion, decreased appetite, and irritability.
Table 5 lists adverse reactions from the pooled pediatric controlled studies (4 to 16 years of age) that occurred in at least 2% of pediatric levetiracetam-treated patients and were numerically more common than in pediatric patients treated with placebo.
In these studies, either levetiracetam or placebo was added to concurrent AED therapy.
Table 5: Adverse Reactions in Pooled Placebo-Controlled, Add-On Studies in Pediatric Patients Ages 4 to 16 Years Experiencing Partial Onset Seizures Levetiracetam (N=165) % Placebo (N=131) % Headache 19 15 Nasopharyngitis 15 12 Vomiting 15 12 Somnolence 13 9 Fatigue 11 5 Aggression 10 5 Cough 9 5 Nasal Congestion 9 2 Upper Abdominal Pain 9 8 Decreased Appetite 8 2 Abnormal Behavior 7 4 Dizziness 7 5 Irritability 7 1 Pharyngolaryngeal Pain 7 4 Diarrhea 6 2 Lethargy 6 5 Insomnia 5 3 Agitation 4 1 Anorexia 4 3 Head Injury 4 0 Altered Mood 3 1 Constipation 3 1 Contusion 3 1 Depression 3 1 Fall 3 2 Influenza 3 1 Affect Lability 2 1 Anxiety 2 1 Arthralgia 2 0 Confusional State 2 0 Conjunctivitis 2 0 Ear Pain 2 1 Gastroenteritis 2 0 Joint Sprain 2 1 Mood Swings 2 1 Neck Pain 2 1 Rhinitis 2 0 Sedation 2 1 In the controlled pooled pediatric clinical studies in patients 4-16 years of age, 7% of patients receiving levetiracetam and 9% receiving placebo discontinued as a result of an adverse reaction.
Pediatric Patients 1 Month to < 4 Years In the 7-day, controlled pediatric clinical study in children 1 month to less than 4 years of age with partial onset seizures, the most common adverse reactions in patients receiving levetiracetam in combination with other AEDs, for events with rates greater than placebo, were somnolence and irritability.
Because of the shorter exposure period, incidences of adverse reactions are expected to be lower than in other pediatric studies in older patients.
Therefore, other controlled pediatric data, presented above, should also be considered to apply to this age group.
Table 6 lists adverse reactions that occurred in at least 5% of pediatric epilepsy patients (ages 1 month to < 4 years) treated with levetiracetam in the placebo-controlled study and were numerically more common than in patients treated with placebo.
In this study, either levetiracetam or placebo was added to concurrent AED therapy.
Table 6: Adverse Reactions in a Placebo-Controlled, Add-On Study in Pediatric Patients Ages 1 Month to < 4 Years Experiencing Partial Onset Seizures Levetiracetam (N=60) % Placebo (N=56) % Somnolence 13 2 Irritability 12 0 In the 7-day controlled pediatric clinical study in patients 1 month to < 4 years of age, 3% of patients receiving levetiracetam and 2% receiving placebo either discontinued or had a dose reduction as a result of an adverse reaction.
There was no adverse reaction that resulted in discontinuation for more than one patient.
Myoclonic Seizures Although the pattern of adverse reactions in this study seems somewhat different from that seen in patients with partial seizures, this is likely due to the much smaller number of patients in this study compared to partial seizure studies.
The adverse reaction pattern for patients with JME is expected to be essentially the same as for patients with partial seizures.
In the controlled clinical study in patients 12 years of age and older with myoclonic seizures, the most common adverse reactions in patients receiving levetiracetam in combination with other AEDs, for events with rates greater than placebo, were somnolence, neck pain, and pharyngitis.
Table 7 lists adverse reactions that occurred in at least 5% of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy patients experiencing myoclonic seizures treated with levetiracetam and were numerically more common than in patients treated with placebo.
In this study, either levetiracetam or placebo was added to concurrent AED therapy.
Table 7: Adverse Reactions in a Placebo-Controlled, Add-On Study in Patients 12 Years of Age and Older with Myoclonic Seizures Levetiracetam (N=60) % Placebo (N=60) % Somnolence 12 2 Neck pain 8 2 Pharyngitis 7 0 Depression 5 2 Influenza 5 2 Vertigo 5 3 In the placebo-controlled study, 8% of patients receiving levetiracetam and 2% receiving placebo either discontinued or had a dose reduction as a result of an adverse reaction.
The adverse reactions that led to discontinuation or dose reduction and that occurred more frequently in levetiracetam-treated patients than in placebo-treated patients are presented in Table 8.
Table 8: Adverse Reactions that Resulted in Discontinuation or Dose Reduction in a Placebo-Controlled Study in Patients with Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy Adverse Reaction Levetiracetam (N=60) % Placebo (N=60) % Anxiety 3 2 Depressed mood 2 0 Depression 2 0 Diplopia 2 0 Hypersomnia 2 0 Insomnia 2 0 Irritability 2 0 Nervousness 2 0 Somnolence 2 0 Primary Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures Although the pattern of adverse reactions in this study seems somewhat different from that seen in patients with partial seizures, this is likely due to the much smaller number of patients in this study compared to partial seizure studies.
The adverse reaction pattern for patients with primary generalized tonic-clonic (PGTC) seizures is expected to be essentially the same as for patients with partial seizures.
In the controlled clinical study that included patients 4 years of age and older with PGTC seizures, the most common adverse reaction in patients receiving levetiracetam in combination with other AEDs, for events with rates greater than placebo, was nasopharyngitis.
Table 9 lists adverse reactions that occurred in at least 5% of idiopathic generalized epilepsy patients experiencing PGTC seizures treated with levetiracetam and were numerically more common than in patients treated with placebo.
In this study, either levetiracetam or placebo was added to concurrent AED therapy.
Table 9: Adverse Reactions in a Placebo-Controlled, Add-On Study in Patients 4 Years of Age and Older with PGTC Seizures Levetiracetam (N=79) % Placebo (N=84) % Nasopharyngitis 14 5 Fatigue 10 8 Diarrhea 8 7 Irritability 6 2 Mood swings 5 1 In the placebo-controlled study, 5% of patients receiving levetiracetam and 8% receiving placebo either discontinued or had a dose reduction during the treatment period as a result of an adverse reaction.
This study was too small to adequately characterize the adverse reactions that could be expected to result in discontinuation of treatment in this population.
It is expected that the adverse reactions that would lead to discontinuation in this population would be similar to those resulting in discontinuation in other epilepsy trials (see tables 4 and 8).
In addition, the following adverse reactions were seen in other controlled adult studies of levetiracetam: balance disorder, disturbance in attention, eczema, memory impairment, myalgia, and blurred vision.
Comparison Of Gender, Age And Race The overall adverse reaction profile of levetiracetam was similar between females and males.
There are insufficient data to support a statement regarding the distribution of adverse reactions by age and race.
Postmarketing Experience The following adverse reactions have been identified during postapproval use of levetiracetam.
Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
The following adverse reactions have been reported in patients receiving marketed levetiracetam worldwide.
The listing is alphabetized: abnormal liver function test, choreoathetosis, drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), dyskinesia, erythema multiforme, hepatic failure, hepatitis, hyponatremia, muscular weakness, pancreatitis, pancytopenia (with bone marrow suppression identified in some of these cases), panic attack, thrombocytopenia, and weight loss.
Alopecia has been reported with levetiracetam use; recovery was observed in majority of cases where levetiracetam was discontinued.
DRUG INTERACTIONS No Information Provided
Side Effects & Drug Interactions SIDE EFFECTS The following adverse reactions are discussed in more details in other sections of labeling: Behavioral Abnormalities and Psychotic Symptoms [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS] Somnolence and Fatigue [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS] Serious Dermatological Reactions [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS] Coordination Difficulties[see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS] Hematologic Abnormalities [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS] Increase in Blood Pressure [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS] Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
The adverse reactions that result from levetiracetam injection use include all of those reported for levetiracetam tablets and oral solution.
Equivalent doses of intravenous (IV) levetiracetam and oral levetiracetam result in equivalent Cmax, Cmin, and total systemic exposure to levetiracetam when the IV levetiracetam is administered as a 15-minute infusion.
Partial Onset Seizures Adults In controlled clinical studies using levetiracetam tablets in adults with partial onset seizures, the most common adverse reactions in adult patients receiving levetiracetam in combination with other AEDs, for events with rates greater than placebo, were somnolence, asthenia, infection, and dizziness.
Of the most common adverse reactions in adults experiencing partial onset seizures, asthenia, somnolence, and dizziness occurred predominantly during the first 4 weeks of treatment with levetiracetam.
Table 3 lists adverse reactions that occurred in at least 1% of adult epilepsy patients receiving levetiracetam tablets in placebo-controlled studies and were numerically more common than in patients treated with placebo.
In these studies, either levetiracetam or placebo was added to concurrent AED therapy.
Table 3: Adverse Reactions* in Pooled Placebo-Controlled, Add-On Studies in Adults Experiencing Partial Onset Seizures Levetiracetam (N=769) % Placebo (N=439) % Asthenia 15 9 Somnolence 15 8 Headache 14 13 Infection 13 8 Dizziness 9 4 Pain 7 6 Pharyngitis 6 4 Depression 4 2 Nervousness 4 2 Rhinitis 4 3 Anorexia 3 2 Ataxia 3 1 Vertigo 3 1 Amnesia 2 1 Anxiety 2 1 Cough Increased 2 1 Diplopia 2 1 Emotional Lability 2 0 Hostility 2 1 Paresthesia 2 1 Sinusitis 2 1 * Adverse reactions occurred in at least 1% of levetiracetam-treated patients and occurred more frequently than placebo-treated patients.
In controlled adult clinical studies using levetiracetam tablets, 15% of patients receiving levetiracetam and 12% receiving placebo either discontinued or had a dose reduction as a result of an adverse reaction.
Table 4 lists the most common ( > 1%) adverse reactions that resulted in discontinuation or dose reduction and that occurred more frequently in levetiracetam-treated patients than in placebo-treated patients.
Table 4: Adverse Reactions that Resulted in Discontinuation or Dose Reduction in Pooled Placebo-Controlled Studies in Adults Experiencing Partial Onset Seizures Adverse Reaction Levetiracetam (N=769) % Placebo (N=439) % Somnolence 4 2 Dizziness 1 0 Pediatric Patients 4 Years to < 16 Years The adverse reaction data presented below was obtained from a pooled analysis of two controlled pediatric clinical studies using an oral formulation in pediatric patients 4 to 16 years of age with partial onset seizures.
The most common adverse reactions in pediatric patients receiving levetiracetam in combination with other AEDs, for events with rates greater than placebo, were fatigue, aggression, nasal congestion, decreased appetite, and irritability.
Table 5 lists adverse reactions from the pooled pediatric controlled studies (4 to 16 years of age) that occurred in at least 2% of pediatric levetiracetam-treated patients and were numerically more common than in pediatric patients treated with placebo.
In these studies, either levetiracetam or placebo was added to concurrent AED therapy.
Table 5: Adverse Reactions in Pooled Placebo-Controlled, Add-On Studies in Pediatric Patients Ages 4 to 16 Years Experiencing Partial Onset Seizures Levetiracetam (N=165) % Placebo (N=131) % Headache 19 15 Nasopharyngitis 15 12 Vomiting 15 12 Somnolence 13 9 Fatigue 11 5 Aggression 10 5 Abdominal Pain Upper 9 8 Cough 9 5 Nasal Congestion 9 2 Decreased Appetite 8 2 Abnormal Behavior 7 4 Dizziness 7 5 Irritability 7 1 Pharyngolaryngeal Pain 7 4 Diarrhea 6 2 Lethargy 6 5 Insomnia 5 3 Agitation 4 1 Anorexia 4 3 Head Injury 4 0 Constipation 3 1 Contusion 3 1 Depression 3 1 Fall 3 2 Influenza 3 1 Mood Altered 3 1 Affect Lability 2 1 Anxiety 2 1 Arthralgia 2 0 Confusional State 2 0 Conjunctivitis 2 0 Ear Pain 2 1 Gastroenteritis 2 0 Joint Sprain 2 1 Mood Swings 2 1 Neck Pain 2 1 Rhinitis 2 0 Sedation 2 1 *Adverse reactions occurred in at least 2% of pediatric levetiracetam-treated patients and occurred more frequently than placebo-treated patients.
In the controlled pooled pediatric clinical studies in patients 4-16 years of age, 7% of patients receiving levetiracetam and 9% receiving placebo discontinued as a result of an adverse reaction.
Pediatric Patients 1 Month to < 4 Years In the 7-day controlled pediatric clinical study using an oral formulation of levetiracetam in children 1 month to less than 4 years of age with partial onset seizures, the most common adverse reactions in patients receiving levetiracetam in combination with other AEDs, for events with rates greater than placebo, were somnolence and irritability.
Because of the shorter exposure period, incidences of adverse reactions are expected to be lower than in other pediatric studies in older patients.
Therefore, other controlled pediatric data, presented above, should also be considered to apply to this age group.
Table 6 lists adverse reactions that occurred in at least 5% of pediatric epilepsy patients (ages 1 month to < 4 years) treated with levetiracetam in the placebo-controlled study and were numerically more common than in patients treated with placebo.
In this study, either levetiracetam or placebo was added to concurrent AED therapy.
Table 6: Adverse Reactions * in a Placebo-Controlled, Add-On Study in Pediatric Patients Ages 1 Month to < 4 Years Experiencing Partial Onset Seizures Levetiracetam (N=60) % Placebo (N=56) % Somnolence 13 2 Irritability 12 0 * Adverse reactions occurred in at least 5% of levetiracetam-treated patients and occurred more frequently than placebo-treated patients.
In the 7-day controlled pediatric clinical study in patients 1 month to < 4 years of age, 3% of patients receiving levetiracetam and 2% receiving placebo either discontinued or had a dose reduction as a result of an adverse reaction.
There was no adverse reaction that resulted in discontinuation for more than one patient.
Myoclonic Seizures Although the pattern of adverse reactions in this study seems somewhat different from that seen in patients with partial seizures, this is likely due to the much smaller number of patients in this study compared to partial seizure studies.
The adverse reaction pattern for patients with JME is expected to be essentially the same as for patients with partial seizures.
In the controlled clinical study using levetiracetam tablets in patients with myoclonic seizures, the most common adverse reactions in patients receiving levetiracetam in combination with other AEDs, for events with rates greater than placebo, were somnolence, neck pain, and pharyngitis.
Table 7 lists adverse reactions that occurred in at least 5% of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy patients experiencing myoclonic seizures treated with levetiracetam tablets and were numerically more common than in patients treated with placebo.
In this study, either levetiracetam or placebo was added to concurrent AED therapy.
Table 7: Adverse Reactions in a Placebo-Controlled, Add-On Study in Patients 12 Years of Age and Older with Myoclonic Seizures Levetiracetam (N=60) % Placebo (N=60) % Somnolence 12 2 Neck pain 8 2 Pharyngitis 7 0 Depression 5 2 Influenza 5 2 Vertigo 5 3 * Adverse reactions occurred in at least 5% of levetiracetam-treated patients and occurred more frequently than placebo-treated patients In the placebo-controlled study using levetiracetam tablets in patients with JME, 8% of patients receiving levetiracetam and 2% receiving placebo either discontinued or had a dose reduction as a result of an adverse reaction.
The adverse reactions that led to discontinuation or dose reduction and that occurred more frequently in levetiracetam-treated patients than in placebo-treated patients are presented in Table 8.
Table 8: Adverse Reactions that Resulted in Discontinuation or Dose Reduction in Patients with Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy Adverse Reaction Levetiracetam (N=60) % Placebo (N=60) % Anxiety 3 2 Depressed mood 2 0 Depression 2 0 Diplopia 2 0 Hypersomnia 2 0 Insomnia 2 0 Irritability 2 0 Nervousness 2 0 Somnolence 2 0 Primary Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures Although the pattern of adverse reactions in this study seems somewhat different from that seen in patients with partial seizures, this is likely due to the much smaller number of patients in this study compared to partial seizure studies.
The adverse reaction pattern for patients with primary generalized tonic-clonic (PGTC) seizures is expected to be essentially the same as for patients with partial seizures.
In the controlled clinical study that included patients 4 years of age and older with PGTC seizures, the most common adverse reaction in patients receiving levetiracetam oral formulation in combination with other AEDs, for events with rates greater than placebo was nasopharyngitis.
Table 9 lists adverse reactions that occurred in at least 5% of idiopathic generalized epilepsy patients experiencing PGTC seizures treated with levetiracetam and were numerically more common than in patients treated with placebo.
In this study, either levetiracetam or placebo was added to concurrent AED therapy.
Table 9: Adverse Reactions * in a Placebo-Controlled, Add-On Study in Patients 4 Years of Age and Older with PGTC Seizures Levetiracetam (N=79) % Placebo (N=84) % Nasopharyngitis 14 5 Fatigue 10 8 Diarrhea 8 7 Irritability 6 2 Mood swings 5 1 * Adverse reactions occurred in at least 5% of levetiracetam-treated patients and occurred more frequently than placebo-treated patients In the placebo-controlled study, 5% of patients receiving levetiracetam and 8% receiving placebo either discontinued or had a dose reduction during the treatment period as a result of an adverse reaction.
This study was too small to adequately characterize the adverse reactions that could be expected to result in discontinuation of treatment in this population.
It is expected that the adverse reactions that would lead to discontinuation in this population would be similar to those resulting in discontinuation in other epilepsy trials (see tables 4 and 8).
In addition, the following adverse reactions were seen in other controlled adult studies of levetiracetam: balance disorder, disturbance in attention, eczema, memory impairment, myalgia, and blurred vision.
Comparison Of Gender, Age And Race The overall adverse reaction profile of levetiracetam was similar between females and males.
There are insufficient data to support a statement regarding the distribution of adverse reactions by age and race.
Postmarketing Experience The following adverse reactions have been identified during postapproval use of levetiracetam.
Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
The following adverse reactions have been reported in patients receiving levetiracetam worldwide.
The listing is alphabetized: abnormal liver function test, choreoathetosis, drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), dyskinesia, erythema multiforme, hepatic failure, hepatitis, hyponatremia, muscular weakness, pancreatitis, pancytopenia (with bone marrow suppression identified in some of these cases), panic attack, thrombocytopenia, and weight loss.
Alopecia has been reported with levetiracetam use; recovery was observed in majority of cases where levetiracetam was discontinued.
DRUG INTERACTIONS No information provided.
Side Effects & Drug Interactions SIDE EFFECTS The following adverse reactions are discussed in more details in other sections of labeling: Behavioral Abnormalities and Psychotic Symptoms [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS] Somnolence and Fatigue [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS] Serious Dermatological Reactions [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS] Coordination Difficulties [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS] Hematologic Abnormalities [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS] Increase in Blood Pressure [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS] Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
The adverse reactions that result from KEPPRA injection use include all of those reported for KEPPRA tablets and oral solution.
Equivalent doses of intravenous (IV) levetiracetam and oral levetiracetam result in equivalent Cmax, Cmin, and total systemic exposure to levetiracetam when the IV levetiracetam is administered as a 15-minute infusion.
Partial Onset Seizures Adults In controlled clinical studies using KEPPRA tablets in adults with partial onset seizures, the most common adverse reactions in adult patients receiving KEPPRA in combination with other AEDs, for events with rates greater than placebo, were somnolence, asthenia, infection, and dizziness.
Of the most common adverse reactions in adults experiencing partial onset seizures, asthenia, somnolence, and dizziness occurred predominantly during the first 4 weeks of treatment with KEPPRA.
Table 3 lists adverse reactions that occurred in at least 1% of adult epilepsy patients receiving KEPPRA tablets in placebo-controlled studies and were numerically more common than in patients treated with placebo.
In these studies, either KEPPRA or placebo was added to concurrent AED therapy.
Table 3: Adverse Reactions in Pooled Placebo-Controlled, Add-On Studies in Adults Experiencing Partial Onset Seizures KEPPRA (N=769) % Placebo (N=439) % Asthenia 15 9 Somnolence 15 8 Headache 14 13 Infection 13 8 Dizziness 9 4 Pain 7 6 Pharyngitis 6 4 Depression 4 2 Nervousness 4 2 Rhinitis 4 3 Anorexia 3 2 Ataxia 3 1 Vertigo 3 1 Amnesia 2 1 Anxiety 2 1 Cough Increased 2 1 Diplopia 2 1 Emotional Lability 2 0 Hostility 2 1 Paresthesia 2 1 Sinusitis 2 1 *Adverse reactions occurred in at least 1% of KEPPRA-treated patients and occurred more frequently than placebo-treated patients In controlled adult clinical studies using KEPPRA tablets, 15% of patients receiving KEPPRA and 12% receiving placebo either discontinued or had a dose reduction as a result of an adverse reaction.
Table 4 lists the most common ( > 1%) adverse reactions that resulted in discontinuation or dose reduction and that occurred more frequently in KEPPRA-treated patients than in placebo-treated patients.
Table 4: Adverse Reactions that Resulted in Discontinuation or Dose Reduction in Pooled Placebo-Controlled Studies in Adults Experiencing Partial Onset Seizures Adverse Reaction KEPPRA (N=769) % Placebo (N=439) % Somnolence 4 2 Dizziness 1 0 Pediatric Patients 4 Years To < 16 Years The adverse reaction data presented below was obtained from a pooled analysis of two controlled pediatric clinical studies using an oral formulation in pediatric patients 4 to 16 years of age with partial onset seizures.
The most common adverse reactions in pediatric patients receiving KEPPRA in combination with other AEDs, for events with rates greater than placebo, were fatigue, aggression, nasal congestion, decreased appetite, and irritability.
Table 5 lists adverse reactions from the pooled pediatric controlled studies (4 to 16 years of age) that occurred in at least 2% of pediatric KEPPRA-treated patients and were numerically more common than in pediatric patients treated with placebo.
In these studies, either KEPPRA or placebo was added to concurrent AED therapy.
Table 5: Adverse Reactions in Pooled Placebo-Controlled, Add-On Studies in Pediatric Patients Ages 4 to 16 Years Experiencing Partial Onset Seizures KEPPRA (N=165) % Placebo (N=131) % Headache 19 15 Nasopharyngitis 15 12 Vomiting 15 12 Somnolence 13 9 Fatigue 11 5 Aggression 10 5 Abdominal Pain Upper 9 8 Cough 9 5 Nasal Congestion 9 2 Decreased Appetite 8 2 Abnormal Behavior 7 4 Dizziness 7 5 Irritability 7 1 Pharyngolaryngeal Pain 7 4 Diarrhea 6 2 Lethargy 6 5 Insomnia 5 3 Agitation 4 1 Anorexia 4 3 Head Injury 4 0 Constipation 3 1 Contusion 3 1 Depression 3 1 Fall 3 2 Influenza 3 1 Mood Altered 3 1 Affect Lability 2 1 Anxiety 2 1 Arthralgia 2 0 Confusional State 2 0 Conjunctivitis 2 0 Ear Pain 2 1 Gastroenteritis 2 0 Joint Sprain 2 1 Mood Swings 2 1 Neck Pain 2 1 Rhinitis 2 0 Sedation 2 1 *Adverse reactions occurred in at least 2% of pediatric KEPPRA-treated patients and occurred more frequently than placebo-treated patients In the controlled pooled pediatric clinical studies in patients 4-16 years of age, 7% of patients receiving KEPPRA and 9% receiving placebo discontinued as a result of an adverse reaction.
Pediatric Patients 1 Month To < 4 Years In the 7-day controlled pediatric clinical study using an oral formulation of KEPPRA in children 1 month to less than 4 years of age with partial onset seizures, the most common adverse reactions in patients receiving KEPPRA in combination with other AEDs, for events with rates greater than placebo, were somnolence and irritability.
Because of the shorter exposure period, incidences of adverse reactions are expected to be lower than in other pediatric studies in older patients.
Therefore, other controlled pediatric data, presented above, should also be considered to apply to this age group.
Table 6 lists adverse reactions that occurred in at least 5% of pediatric epilepsy patients (ages 1 month to < 4 years) treated with KEPPRA in the placebo-controlled study and were numerically more common than in patients treated with placebo.
In this study, either KEPPRA or placebo was added to concurrent AED therapy.
Table 6: Adverse Reactions in a Placebo-Controlled, Add-On Study in Pediatric Patients Ages 1 Month to < 4 Years Experiencing Partial Onset Seizures KEPPRA (N=60) % Placebo (N=56) % Somnolence 13 2 Irritability 12 0 *Adverse reactions occurred in at least 5% of KEPPRA-treated patients and occurred more frequently than placebo-treated patients In the 7-day controlled pediatric clinical study in patients 1 month to < 4 years of age, 3% of patients receiving KEPPRA and 2% receiving placebo either discontinued or had a dose reduction as a result of an adverse reaction.
There was no adverse reaction that resulted in discontinuation for more than one patient.
Myoclonic Seizures Although the pattern of adverse reactions in this study seems somewhat different from that seen in patients with partial seizures, this is likely due to the much smaller number of patients in this study compared to partial seizure studies.
The adverse reaction pattern for patients with JME is expected to be essentially the same as for patients with partial seizures.
In the controlled clinical study using KEPPRA tablets in patients with myoclonic seizures, the most common adverse reactions in patients receiving KEPPRA in combination with other AEDs, for events with rates greater than placebo, were somnolence, neck pain, and pharyngitis.
Table 7 lists adverse reactions that occurred in at least 5% of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy patients experiencing myoclonic seizures treated with KEPPRA tablets and were numerically more common than in patients treated with placebo.
In this study, either KEPPRA or placebo was added to concurrent AED therapy.
Table 7: Adverse Reactions in a Placebo-Controlled, Add-On Study in Patients 12 Years of Age and Older with Myoclonic Seizures KEPPRA (N=60) % Placebo (N=60) % Somnolence 12 2 Neck pain 8 2 Pharyngitis 7 0 Depression 5 2 Influenza 5 2 Vertigo 5 3 *Adverse reactions occurred in at least 5% of KEPPRA-treated patients and occurred more frequently than placebo-treated patients In the placebo-controlled study using KEPPRA tablets in patients with JME, 8% of patients receiving KEPPRA and 2% receiving placebo either discontinued or had a dose reduction as a result of an adverse reaction.
The adverse reactions that led to discontinuation or dose reduction and that occurred more frequently in KEPPRA-treated patients than in placebo-treated patients are presented in Table 8.
Table 8: Adverse Reactions that Resulted in Discontinuation or Dose Reduction in Patients with Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy Adverse Reaction KEPPRA (N=60) % Placebo (N=60) % Anxiety 3 2 Depressed mood 2 0 Depression 2 0 Diplopia 2 0 Hypersomnia 2 0 Insomnia 2 0 Irritability 2 0 Nervousness 2 0 Somnolence 2 0 Primary Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures Although the pattern of adverse reactions in this study seems somewhat different from that seen in patients with partial seizures, this is likely due to the much smaller number of patients in this study compared to partial seizure studies.
The adverse reaction pattern for patients with primary generalized tonic-clonic (PGTC) seizures is expected to be essentially the same as for patients with partial seizures.
In the controlled clinical study that included patients 4 years of age and older with PGTC seizures, the most common adverse reaction in patients receiving KEPPRA oral formulation in combination with other AEDs, for events with rates greater than placebo was nasopharyngitis.
Table 9 lists adverse reactions that occurred in at least 5% of idiopathic generalized epilepsy patients experiencing PGTC seizures treated with KEPPRA and were numerically more common than in patients treated with placebo.
In this study, either KEPPRA or placebo was added to concurrent AED therapy.
Table 9: Adverse Reactions in a Placebo-Controlled, Add-On Study in Patients 4 Years of Age and Older with PGTC Seizures KEPPRA (N=79) % Placebo (N=84) % Nasopharyngitis 14 5 Fatigue 10 8 Diarrhea 8 7 Irritability 6 2 Mood swings 5 1 * Adverse reactions occurred in at least 5% of KEPPRA-treated patients and occurred more frequently than placebo-treated patients In the placebo-controlled study, 5% of patients receiving KEPPRA and 8% receiving placebo either discontinued or had a dose reduction during the treatment period as a result of an adverse reaction.
This study was too small to adequately characterize the adverse reactions that could be expected to result in discontinuation of treatment in this population.
It is expected that the adverse reactions that would lead to discontinuation in this population would be similar to those resulting in discontinuation in other epilepsy trials (see tables 4 and 8).
In addition, the following adverse reactions were seen in other controlled adult studies of KEPPRA: balance disorder, disturbance in attention, eczema, memory impairment, myalgia, and blurred vision.
Comparison Of Gender, Age And Race The overall adverse reaction profile of KEPPRA was similar between females and males.
There are insufficient data to support a statement regarding the distribution of adverse reactions by age and race.
Postmarketing Experience The following adverse reactions have been identified during postapproval use of KEPPRA.
Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
The following adverse reactions have been reported in patients receiving KEPPRA worldwide.
The listing is alphabetized: abnormal liver function test, acute kidney injury, choreoathetosis, drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), dyskinesia, erythema multiforme, hepatic failure, hepatitis, hyponatremia, muscular weakness, pancreatitis, pancytopenia (with bone marrow suppression identified in some of these cases), panic attack, thrombocytopenia, and weight loss.
Alopecia has been reported with KEPPRA use; recovery was observed in majority of cases where KEPPRA was discontinued.
DRUG INTERACTIONS No information provided.
Side Effects & Drug Interactions SIDE EFFECTS The following adverse reactions are discussed in more details in other sections of labeling: Psychiatric Symptoms [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS] Suicidal Behavior and Ideation [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS] Somnolence and Fatigue [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS] Anaphylaxis and Angioedema [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS] Serious Dermatological Reactions [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS] Coordination Difficulties [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS] Hematologic Abnormalities [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS] Increase in Blood Pressure [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS] Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
Partial Onset Seizures Adults In controlled clinical studies in adults with partial onset seizures, the most common adverse reactions in patients receiving KEPPRA in combination with other AEDs, for events with rates greater than placebo, were somnolence, asthenia, infection, and dizziness.
Of the most common adverse reactions in adults experiencing partial onset seizures, asthenia, somnolence, and dizziness occurred predominantly during the first 4 weeks of treatment with KEPPRA.
Table 3 lists adverse reactions that occurred in at least 1% of adult epilepsy patients receiving KEPPRA in placebocontrolled studies and were numerically more common than in patients treated with placebo.
In these studies, either KEPPRA or placebo was added to concurrent AED therapy.
Table 3: Adverse Reactions in Pooled Placebo-Controlled, Add-On Studies in Adults Experiencing Partial Onset Seizures KEPPRA (N=769) % Placebo (N=439) % Asthenia 15 9 Somnolence 15 8 Headache 14 13 Infection 13 8 Dizziness 9 4 Pain 7 6 Pharyngitis 6 4 Depression 4 2 Nervousness 4 2 Rhinitis 4 3 Anorexia 3 2 Ataxia 3 1 Vertigo 3 1 Amnesia 2 1 Anxiety 2 1 Cough Increased 2 1 Diplopia 2 1 Emotional Lability 2 0 Hostility 2 1 Paresthesia 2 1 Sinusitis 2 1 In controlled adult clinical studies, 15% of patients receiving KEPPRA and 12% receiving placebo either discontinued or had a dose reduction as a result of an adverse reaction.
Table 4 lists the most common (>1%) adverse reactions that resulted in discontinuation or dose reduction and that occurred more frequently in KEPPRA-treated patients than in placebo-treated patients.
Table 4: Adverse Reactions that Resulted in Discontinuation or Dose Reduction in Placebo-Controlled Studies in Adult Patients Experiencing Partial Onset Seizures Adverse Reaction KEPPRA (N=769) % Placebo (N=439) % Somnolence 4 2 Dizziness 1 0 Pediatric Patients 4 Years To <16 Years The adverse reaction data presented below was obtained from a pooled analysis of two controlled pediatric clinical studies in pediatric patients 4 to 16 years of age with partial onset seizures.
The most common adverse reactions in pediatric patients receiving KEPPRA in combination with other AEDs, for events with rates greater than placebo, were fatigue, aggression, nasal congestion, decreased appetite, and irritability.
Table 5 lists adverse reactions from the pooled pediatric controlled studies (4 to 16 years of age) that occurred in at least 2% of pediatric KEPPRA-treated patients and were numerically more common than in pediatric patients treated with placebo.
In these studies, either KEPPRA or placebo was added to concurrent AED therapy.
Table 5: Adverse Reactions in Pooled Placebo-Controlled, Add-On Studies in Pediatric Patients Ages 4 to 16 Years Experiencing Partial Onset Seizures KEPPRA (N=165) % Placebo (N=131) % Headache 19 15 Nasopharyngitis 15 12 Vomiting 15 12 Somnolence 13 9 Fatigue 11 5 Aggression 10 5 Cough 9 5 Nasal Congestion 9 2 Upper Abdominal Pain 9 8 Decreased Appetite 8 2 Abnormal Behavior 7 4 Dizziness 7 5 Irritability 7 1 Pharyngolaryngeal Pain 7 4 Diarrhea 6 2 Lethargy 6 5 Insomnia 5 3 Agitation 4 1 Anorexia 4 3 Head Injury 4 0 Altered Mood 3 1 Constipation 3 1 Contusion 3 1 Depression 3 1 Fall 3 2 Influenza 3 1 Affect Lability 2 1 Anxiety 2 1 Arthralgia 2 0 Confusional State 2 0 Conjunctivitis 2 0 Ear Pain 2 1 Gastroenteritis 2 0 Joint Sprain 2 1 Mood Swings 2 1 Neck Pain 2 1 Rhinitis 2 0 Sedation 2 1 In the controlled pooled pediatric clinical studies in patients 4-16 years of age, 7% of patients receiving KEPPRA and 9% receiving placebo discontinued as a result of an adverse reaction.
Pediatric Patients 1 Month To < 4 Years In the 7-day, controlled pediatric clinical study in children 1 month to less than 4 years of age with partial onset seizures, the most common adverse reactions in patients receiving KEPPRA in combination with other AEDs, for events with rates greater than placebo, were somnolence and irritability.
Because of the shorter exposure period, incidences of adverse reactions are expected to be lower than in other pediatric studies in older patients.
Therefore, other controlled pediatric data, presented above, should also be considered to apply to this age group.
Table 6 lists adverse reactions that occurred in at least 5% of pediatric epilepsy patients (ages 1 month to < 4 years) treated with KEPPRA in the placebo-controlled study and were numerically more common than in patients treated with placebo.
In this study, either KEPPRA or placebo was added to concurrent AED therapy.
Table 6: Adverse Reactions in a Placebo-Controlled, Add-On Study in Pediatric Patients Ages 1 Month to < 4 Years Experiencing Partial Onset Seizures KEPPRA (N=60) % Placebo (N=56) % Somnolence 13 2 Irritability 12 0 In the 7-day controlled pediatric clinical study in patients 1 month to < 4 years of age, 3% of patients receiving KEPPRA and 2% receiving placebo either discontinued or had a dose reduction as a result of an adverse reaction.
There was no adverse reaction that resulted in discontinuation for more than one patient.
Myoclonic Seizures Although the pattern of adverse reactions in this study seems somewhat different from that seen in patients with partial seizures, this is likely due to the much smaller number of patients in this study compared to partial seizure studies.
The adverse reaction pattern for patients with JME is expected to be essentially the same as for patients with partial seizures.
In the controlled clinical study in patients 12 years of age and older with myoclonic seizures, the most common adverse reactions in patients receiving KEPPRA in combination with other AEDs, for events with rates greater than placebo, were somnolence, neck pain, and pharyngitis.
Table 7 lists adverse reactions that occurred in at least 5% of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy patients experiencing myoclonic seizures treated with KEPPRA and were numerically more common than in patients treated with placebo.
In this study, either KEPPRA or placebo was added to concurrent AED therapy.
Table 7: Adverse Reactions in a Placebo-Controlled, Add-On Study in Patients 12 Years of Age and Older with Myoclonic Seizures KEPPRA (N=60) % Placebo (N=60) % Somnolence 12 2 Neck pain 8 2 Pharyngitis 7 0 Depression 5 2 Influenza 5 2 Vertigo 5 3 In the placebo-controlled study, 8% of patients receiving KEPPRA and 2% receiving placebo either discontinued or had a dose reduction as a result of an adverse reaction.
The adverse reactions that led to discontinuation or dose reduction and that occurred more frequently in KEPPRA-treated patients than in placebo-treated patients are presented in Table 8.
Table 8: Adverse Reactions that Resulted in Discontinuation or Dose Reduction in a Placebo-Controlled Study in Patients with Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy Adverse Reaction KEPPRA (N=60) % Placebo (N=60) % Anxiety 3 2 Depressed mood 2 0 Depression 2 0 Diplopia 2 0 Hypersomnia 2 0 Insomnia 2 0 Irritability 2 0 Nervousness 2 0 Somnolence 2 0 Primary Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures Although the pattern of adverse reactions in this study seems somewhat different from that seen in patients with partial seizures, this is likely due to the much smaller number of patients in this study compared to partial seizure studies.
The adverse reaction pattern for patients with primary generalized tonic-clonic (PGTC) seizures is expected to be essentially the same as for patients with partial seizures.
In the controlled clinical study that included patients 4 years of age and older with PGTC seizures, the most common adverse reaction in patients receiving KEPPRA in combination with other AEDs, for events with rates greater than placebo, was nasopharyngitis.
Table 9 lists adverse reactions that occurred in at least 5% of idiopathic generalized epilepsy patients experiencing PGTC seizures treated with KEPPRA and were numerically more common than in patients treated with placebo.
In this study, either KEPPRA or placebo was added to concurrent AED therapy.
Table 9: Adverse Reactions in a Placebo-Controlled, Add-On Study in Patients 4 Years of Age and Older with PGTC Seizures KEPPRA (N=79) % Placebo (N=84) % Nasopharyngitis 14 5 Fatigue 10 8 Diarrhea 8 7 Irritability 6 2 Mood swings 5 1 In the placebo-controlled study, 5% of patients receiving KEPPRA and 8% receiving placebo either discontinued or had a dose reduction during the treatment period as a result of an adverse reaction.
This study was too small to adequately characterize the adverse reactions that could be expected to result in discontinuation of treatment in this population.
It is expected that the adverse reactions that would lead to discontinuation in this population would be similar to those resulting in discontinuation in other epilepsy trials (see tables 4 and 8).
In addition, the following adverse reactions were seen in other controlled adult studies of KEPPRA: balance disorder, disturbance in attention, eczema, memory impairment, myalgia, and blurred vision.
Comparison Of Gender, Age And Race The overall adverse reaction profile of KEPPRA was similar between females and males.
There are insufficient data to support a statement regarding the distribution of adverse reactions by age and race.
Postmarketing Experience The following adverse reactions have been identified during postapproval use of KEPPRA.
Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
The following adverse reactions have been reported in patients receiving marketed KEPPRA worldwide.
The listing is alphabetized: abnormal liver function test, acute kidney injury, anaphylaxis, angioedema, agranulocytosis, choreoathetosis, drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), dyskinesia, erythema multiforme, hepatic failure, hepatitis, hyponatremia, muscular weakness, pancreatitis, pancytopenia (with bone marrow suppression identified in some of these cases), panic attack, thrombocytopenia, and weight loss.
Alopecia has been reported with KEPPRA use; recovery was observed in majority of cases where KEPPRA was discontinued.
DRUG INTERACTIONS No Information Provided
Warnings & Precautions WARNINGS Included as part of the "PRECAUTIONS" Section PRECAUTIONS Behavioral Abnormalities And Psychotic Symptoms ROWEEPRA may cause behavioral abnormalities and psychotic symptoms.
Patients treated with ROWEEPRA should be monitored for psychiatric signs and symptoms.
Behavioral Abnormalities In clinical studies, 13% of adult levetiracetam-treated patients and 38% of pediatric levetiracetam-treated patients (4 to 16 years of age) compared to 6% and 19% of adult and pediatric placebo-treated patients, experienced non-psychotic behavioral symptoms (reported as aggression, agitation, anger, anxiety, apathy, depersonalization, depression, emotional lability, hostility, hyperkinesias, irritability, nervousness, neurosis, and personality disorder).
A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study was performed to assess the neurocognitive and behavioral effects of levetiracetam as adjunctive therapy in pediatric patients (4 to 16 years of age).
The results from an exploratory analysis indicated a worsening in levetiracetam-treated patients on aggressive behavior (one of eight behavior dimensions) as measured in a standardized and systematic way using a validated instrument, the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL/6-18).
In clinical studies in pediatric patients 1 month to < 4 years of age, irritability was reported in 12% of the levetiracetam-treated patients compared to 0% of placebo-treated patients.
In clinical studies, 1.7% of adult levetiracetam-treated patients discontinued treatment due to behavioral adverse reactions, compared to 0.2% of placebo-treated patients.
The treatment dose was reduced in 0.8% of adult levetiracetam-treated patients and in 0.5% of placebo-treated patients.
Overall, 11% of levetiracetam-treated pediatric patients experienced behavioral symptoms associated with discontinuation or dose reduction, compared to 6% of placebo-treated patients.
Psychotic Symptoms In clinical studies, 1% of levetiracetam-treated adult patients, 2% of levetiracetam-treated pediatric patients 4 to 16 years of age, and 17% of levetiracetam-treated pediatric patients 1 month to <4 years of age experienced psychotic symptoms, compared to 0.2%, 2%, and 5%, in the corresponding age groups treated with placebo.
In a controlled study that assessed the neurocognitive and behavioral effects of levetiracetam in pediatric patients 4 to 16 years of age, 1.6% of levetiracetam-treated patients experienced paranoia, compared to 0% of placebo-treated patients.
In the same study, 3.1% of levetiracetam-treated patients experienced confusional state, compared to 0% of placebo-treated patients [see Use In Specific Populations].
In clinical studies, two (0.3%) levetiracetam-treated adult patients were hospitalized and their treatment was discontinued due to psychosis.
Both events, reported as psychosis, developed within the first week of treatment and resolved within 1 to 2 weeks following treatment discontinuation.
There was no difference between drug and placebo-treated patients in the incidence of the pediatric patients who discontinued treatment due to psychotic and non-psychotic adverse reactions.
Suicidal Behavior And Ideation Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), including ROWEEPRA, increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior in patients taking these drugs for any indication.
Patients treated with any AED for any indication should be monitored for the emergence or worsening of depression, suicidal thoughts or behavior, and/or any unusual changes in mood or behavior.
Pooled analyses of 199 placebo-controlled clinical trials (mono- and adjunctive therapy) of 11 different AEDs showed that patients randomized to one of the AEDs had approximately twice the risk (adjusted Relative Risk 1.8, 95% CI:1.2, 2.7) of suicidal thinking or behavior compared to patients randomized to placebo.
In these trials, which had a median treatment duration of 12 weeks, the estimated incidence rate of suicidal behavior or ideation among 27,863 AED-treated patients was 0.43%, compared to 0.24% among 16,029 placebo-treated patients, representing an increase of approximately one case of suicidal thinking or behavior for every 530 patients treated.
There were four suicides in drug-treated patients in the trials and none in placebo-treated patients, but the number is too small to allow any conclusion about drug effect on suicide.
The increased risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior with AEDs was observed as early as one week after starting drug treatment with AEDs and persisted for the duration of treatment assessed.
Because most trials included in the analysis did not extend beyond 24 weeks, the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior beyond 24 weeks could not be assessed.
The risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior was generally consistent among drugs in the data analyzed.
The finding of increased risk with AEDs of varying mechanisms of action and across a range of indications suggests that the risk applies to all AEDs used for any indication.
The risk did not vary substantially by age (5-100 years) in the clinical trials analyzed.
Table 2 shows absolute and relative risk by indication for all evaluated AEDs.
Table 2: Risk by Indication for Antiepileptic Drugs in the Pooled Analysis Indication Placebo Patients with Events Per 1,000 Patients Drug Patients with Events Per 1,000 Patients Relative Risk: Incidence of Events in Drug Patients/Incidence in Placebo Patients Risk Difference: Additional Drug Patients with Events Per 1,000 Patients Epilepsy 1.0 3.4 3.5 2.4 Psychiatric 5.7 8.5 1.5 2.9 Other 1.0 1.8 1.9 0.9 Total 2.4 4.3 1.8 1.9 The relative risk for suicidal thoughts or behavior was higher in clinical trials for epilepsy than in clinical trials for psychiatric or other conditions, but the absolute risk differences were similar for the epilepsy and psychiatric indications.
Anyone considering prescribing ROWEEPRA or any other AED must balance the risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviors with the risk of untreated illness.
Epilepsy and many other illnesses for which AEDs are prescribed are themselves associated with morbidity and mortality and an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior.
Should suicidal thoughts and behavior emerge during treatment, the prescriber needs to consider whether the emergence of these symptoms in any given patient may be related to the illness being treated.
Patients, their caregivers, and families should be informed that AEDs increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior and should be advised of the need to be alert for the emergence or worsening of the signs and symptoms of depression, any unusual changes in mood or behavior, or the emergence of suicidal thoughts, behavior, or thoughts about self-harm.
Behaviors of concern should be reported immediately to healthcare providers.
Somnolence And Fatigue ROWEEPRA may cause somnolence and fatigue.
Patients should be monitored for these signs and symptoms and advised not to drive or operate machinery until they have gained sufficient experience on levetiracetam to gauge whether it adversely affects their ability to drive or operate machinery.
Somnolence In controlled trials of adult patients with epilepsy experiencing partial onset seizures, 15% of levetiracetam-treated patients reported somnolence, compared to 8% of placebo-treated patients.
There was no clear dose response up to 3,000 mg/day.
In a study where there was no titration, about 45% of patients receiving 4,000 mg/day reported somnolence.
The somnolence was considered serious in 0.3% of levetiracetam-treated patients, compared to 0% in the placebo group.
About 3% of levetiracetam-treated patients discontinued treatment due to somnolence, compared to 0.7% of placebo-treated patients.
In 1.4% of levetiracetam-treated patients and 0.9% of placebo-treated patients, the dose was reduced, while 0.3% of the levetiracetam-treated patients were hospitalized due to somnolence.
Asthenia In controlled clinical studies of adult patients with epilepsy experiencing partial onset seizures, 15% of levetiracetam-treated patients reported asthenia, compared to 9% of placebo-treated patients.
Treatment was discontinued due to asthenia in 0.8% of levetiracetam-treated patients as compared to 0.5% of placebo-treated patients.
In 0.5% of levetiracetam-treated patients and in 0.2% of placebo-treated patients, the dose was reduced due to asthenia.
Somnolence and asthenia occurred most frequently within the first 4 weeks of treatment.
In general, the incidences of somnolence and fatigue in the pediatric partial onset seizure studies, and in pediatric and adult myoclonic and primary generalized tonic-clonic seizure studies were comparable to those of the adult partial onset seizure studies.
Serious Dermatological Reactions Serious dermatological reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), have been reported in both pediatric and adult patients treated with levetiracetam.
The median time of onset is reported to be 14 to 17 days, but cases have been reported at least four months after initiation of treatment.
Recurrence of the serious skin reactions following rechallenge with levetiracetam has also been reported.
Levetiracetam should be discontinued at the first sign of a rash, unless the rash is clearly not drug-related.
If signs or symptoms suggest SJS/TEN, use of this drug should not be resumed and alternative therapy should be considered.
Coordination Difficulties ROWEEPRA may cause coordination difficulties.
In controlled clinical studies in adult patients with partial onset seizure studies, 3.4% of adult levetiracetam-treated patients experienced coordination difficulties, (reported as either ataxia, abnormal gait, or incoordination) compared to 1.6% of placebo-treated patients.
A total of 0.4% of patients in controlled clinical studies discontinued levetiracetam treatment due to ataxia, compared to 0% of placebo-treated patients.
In 0.7% of levetiracetam-treated patients and in 0.2% of placebo-treated patients, the dose was reduced due to coordination difficulties, while one of the levetiracetam-treated patients was hospitalized due to worsening of pre-existing ataxia.
These events occurred most frequently within the first 4 weeks of treatment.
Patients should be monitored for these signs and symptoms and advised not to drive or operate machinery until they have gained sufficient experience on levetiracetam to gauge whether it could adversely affect their ability to drive or operate machinery.
Withdrawal Seizures Antiepileptic drugs, including ROWEEPRA, should be withdrawn gradually to minimize the potential of increased seizure frequency.
Hematologic Abnormalities ROWEEPRA can cause hematologic abnormalities.
Hematologic abnormalities occurred in clinical trials and included decreases in red blood cell (RBC) counts, hemoglobin, and hematocrit, and increases in eosinophil counts.
Decreased white blood cell (WBC) and neutrophil counts also occurred in clinical trials.
Cases of agranulocytosis have been reported in the postmarketing setting.
Partial Onset Seizures Adults Minor, but statistically significant, decreases compared to placebo in total mean RBC count (0.03 x 106/mm3), mean hemoglobin (0.09 g/dL), and mean hematocrit (0.38%), were seen in levetiracetam-treated patients in controlled trials.
A total of 3.2% of levetiracetam-treated and 1.8% of placebo-treated patients had at least one possibly significant (≤2.8 x 109/L) decreased WBC, and 2.4% of levetiracetam-treated and 1.4% of placebo-treated patients had at least one possibly significant (≤1.0 x 109/L) decreased neutrophil count.
Of the levetiracetam-treated patients with a low neutrophil count, all but one rose towards or to baseline with continued treatment.
No patient was discontinued secondary to low neutrophil counts.
Pediatric Patients 4 Years to < 16 Years Statistically significant decreases in WBC and neutrophil counts were seen in levetiracetam-treated patients as compared to placebo.
The mean decreases from baseline in the levetiracetam-treated group were -0.4 × 109/L and -0.3 × 109/L, respectively, whereas there were small increases in the placebo group.
Mean relative lymphocyte counts increased by 1.7% in levetiracetam-treated patients, compared to a decrease of 4% in placebo patients (statistically significant).
In the controlled trial, more levetiracetam-treated patients had a possibly clinically significant abnormally low WBC value (3% of levetiracetam-treated patients versus 0% of placebo-treated patients), however, there was no apparent difference between treatment groups with respect to neutrophil count (5% of levetiracetam-treated patients versus 4.2% of placebo-treated patients).
No patient was discontinued secondary to low WBC or neutrophil counts.
In the controlled cognitive and neuropsychological safety study, 5 patients (8.6%) in the levetiracetam-treated group and two patients (6.1%) in the placebo-treated group had high eosinophil count values that were possibly clinically significant (≥10% or ≥0.7X109/L).
Increase in Blood Pressure In a randomized, placebo-controlled study in patients 1 month to <4 years of age, a significantly higher risk of increased diastolic blood pressure was observed in the levetiracetam-treated patients (17%), compared to the placebo-treated patients (2%).
There was no overall difference in mean diastolic blood pressure between the treatment groups.
This disparity between the levetiracetam and placebo treatment groups was not observed in the studies of older children or in adults.
Monitor patients 1 month to <4 years of age for increases in diastolic blood pressure.
Seizure Control During Pregnancy Physiological changes may gradually decrease plasma levels of levetiracetam throughout pregnancy.
This decrease is more pronounced during the third trimester.
It is recommended that patients be monitored carefully during pregnancy.
Close monitoring should continue through the postpartum period especially if the dose was changed during pregnancy.
Patient Counseling Information Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (Medication Guide).
Suicidal Behavior And Ideation Counsel patients, their caregivers, and/or families that antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), including ROWEEPRA, may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior and advise patients to be alert for the emergence or worsening of symptoms of depression; unusual changes in mood or behavior; or suicidal thoughts, behavior, or thoughts about self-harm.
Advise patients, their caregivers, and/or families to immediately report behaviors of concern to a healthcare provider.
Psychiatric Reactions And Changes In Behavior Advise patients that ROWEEPRA may cause changes in behavior (e.g.
aggression, agitation, anger, anxiety, apathy, depression, hostility, and irritability) and psychotic symptoms.
Effects On Driving Or Operating Machinery Inform patients that ROWEEPRA may cause dizziness and somnolence.
Inform patients not to drive or operate machinery until they have gained sufficient experience on ROWEEPRA to gauge whether it adversely affects their ability to drive or operate machinery.
Dermatological Adverse Reactions Advise patients that serious dermatological adverse reactions have occurred in patients treated with ROWEEPRA and instruct them to call their physician immediately if a rash develops.
Pregnancy Advise patients to notify their healthcare provider if they become pregnant or intend to become pregnant during ROWEEPRA therapy.
Encourage patients to enroll in the North American Antiepileptic Drug (NAAED) pregnancy registry if they become pregnant.
This registry is collecting information about the safety of antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy.
To enroll, patients can call the toll free number 1-888-233-2334 [see Use In Specific Populations].
Nonclinical Toxicology Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment Of Fertility Carcinogenesis Rats were dosed with levetiracetam in the diet for 104 weeks at doses of 50, 300 and 1,800 mg/kg/day.
The highest dose is 6 times the maximum recommended daily human dose (MRHD) of 3,000 mg on a mg/m2 basis and it also provided systemic exposure (AUC) approximately 6 times that achieved in humans receiving the MRHD.
There was no evidence of carcinogenicity.
In mice, oral administration of levetiracetam for 80 weeks (doses up to 960 mg/kg/day) or 2 years (doses up to 4,000 mg/kg/day, lowered to 3,000 mg/kg/day after 45 weeks due to intolerability) was not associated with an increase in tumors.
The highest dose tested in mice for 2 years (3,000 mg/kg/day) is approximately 5 times the MRHD on a mg/m2 basis.
Mutagenesis Levetiracetam was not mutagenic in the Ames test or in mammalian cells in vitro in the Chinese hamster ovary/HGPRT locus assay.
It was not clastogenic in an in vitro analysis of metaphase chromosomes obtained from Chinese hamster ovary cells or in an in vivo mouse micronucleus assay.
The hydrolysis product and major human metabolite of levetiracetam (ucb L057) was not mutagenic in the Ames test or the in vitro mouse lymphoma assay.
Impairment Of Fertility No adverse effects on male or female fertility or reproductive performance were observed in rats at oral doses up to 1,800 mg/kg/day (6 times the maximum recommended human dose on a mg/m2 or systemic exposure [AUC] basis).
Use In Specific Populations Pregnancy Levetiracetam blood levels may decrease during pregnancy [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Pregnancy Category C There are no adequate and controlled studies in pregnant women.
In animal studies, levetiracetam produced evidence of developmental toxicity, including teratogenic effects, at doses similar to or greater than human therapeutic doses.
ROWEEPRA should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.
Oral administration of levetiracetam to female rats throughout pregnancy and lactation led to increased incidences of minor fetal skeletal abnormalities and retarded offspring growth pre- and/or postnatally at doses ≥350 mg/kg/day (equivalent to the maximum recommended human dose of 3,000 mg [MRHD] on a mg/m2 basis) and with increased pup mortality and offspring behavioral alterations at a dose of 1,800 mg/kg/day (6 times the MRHD on a mg/m2 basis).
The developmental no effect dose was 70 mg/kg/day (0.2 times the MRHD on a mg/m2 basis).
There was no overt maternal toxicity at the doses used in this study.
Oral administration of levetiracetam to pregnant rabbits during the period of organogenesis resulted in increased embryofetal mortality and increased incidences of minor fetal skeletal abnormalities at doses ≥600 mg/kg/day (4 times MRHD on a mg/m2 basis) and in decreased fetal weights and increased incidences of fetal malformations at a dose of 1,800 mg/kg/day (12 times the MRHD on a mg/m2 basis).
The developmental no effect dose was 200 mg/kg/day (equivalent to the MRHD on a mg/m2 basis).
Maternal toxicity was also observed at 1,800 mg/kg/day.
When levetiracetam was administered orally to pregnant rats during the period of organogenesis, fetal weights were decreased and the incidence of fetal skeletal variations was increased at a dose of 3,600 mg/kg/day (12 times the MRHD).
1,200 mg/kg/day (4 times the MRHD) was a developmental no effect dose.
There was no evidence of maternal toxicity in this study.
Treatment of rats with levetiracetam during the last third of gestation and throughout lactation produced no adverse developmental or maternal effects at doses of up to 1,800 mg/kg/day (6 times the MRHD on a mg/m2 basis).
Pregnancy Registry To provide information regarding the effects of in utero exposure to ROWEEPRA, physicians are advised to recommend that pregnant patients taking ROWEEPRA enroll in the North American Antiepileptic Drug (NAAED) pregnancy registry.
This can be done by calling the toll free number 1-888-233-2334, and must be done by the patients themselves.
Information on the registry can also be found at the website http://www.aedpregnancyregistry.org/.
Labor And Delivery The effect of ROWEEPRA on labor and delivery in humans is unknown.
Nursing Mothers Levetiracetam is excreted in human milk.
Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants from ROWEEPRA, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.
Pediatric Use The safety and effectiveness of levetiracetam in the adjunctive treatment of partial onset seizures in pediatric patients age 1 month to 16 years old with epilepsy have been established [see Clinical Studies].
The dosing recommendation in these pediatric patients varies according to age group and is weight-based [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
The safety and effectiveness of levetiracetam as adjunctive treatment of myoclonic seizures in adolescents 12 years of age and older with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy have been established [see Clinical Studies].
The safety and effectiveness of levetiracetam as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in pediatric patients 6 years of age and older with idiopathic generalized epilepsy have been established [see Clinical Studies].
A 3-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was performed to assess the neurocognitive and behavioral effects of levetiracetam as adjunctive therapy in 98 (levetiracetam N=64, placebo N=34) pediatric patients, ages 4 to 16 years old, with partial seizures that were inadequately controlled.
The target dose was 60 mg/kg/day.
Neurocognitive effects were measured by the Leiter-R Attention and Memory (AM) Battery, which measures various aspects of a child's memory and attention.
Although no substantive differences were observed between the placebo and drug treated groups in the median change from baseline in this battery, the study was not adequate to assess formal statistical non-inferiority of the drug and placebo.
The Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL/6-18), a standardized validated tool used to assess a child’s competencies and behavioral/emotional problems, was also assessed in this study.
An analysis of the CBCL/6-18 indicated on average a worsening in levetiracetam-treated patients in aggressive behavior, one of the eight syndrome scores [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Studies of levetiracetam in juvenile rats (dosing from day 4 through day 52 of age) and dogs (dosing from week 3 through week 7 of age) at doses of up to 1,800 mg/kg/day (approximately 7 and 24 times, respectively, the maximum recommended pediatric dose of 60 mg/kg/day on a mg/m2 basis) did not indicate a potential for age-specific toxicity.
Geriatric Use There were 347 subjects in clinical studies of levetiracetam that were 65 and over.
No overall differences in safety were observed between these subjects and younger subjects.
There were insufficient numbers of elderly subjects in controlled trials of epilepsy to adequately assess the effectiveness of levetiracetam in these patients.
Levetiracetam is known to be substantially excreted by the kidney, and the risk of adverse reactions to this drug may be greater in patients with impaired renal function.
Because elderly patients are more likely to have decreased renal function, care should be taken in dose selection, and it may be useful to monitor renal function [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
Renal Impairment Clearance of levetiracetam is decreased in patients with renal impairment and is correlated with creatinine clearance [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
Dose adjustment is recommended for patients with impaired renal function and supplemental doses should be given to patients after dialysis [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Warnings & Precautions WARNINGS Included as part of the PRECAUTIONS section.
PRECAUTIONS Behavioral Abnormalities And Psychotic Symptoms Levetiracetam may cause behavioral abnormalities and psychotic symptoms.
Patients treated with levetiracetam should be monitored for psychiatric signs and symptoms.
Behavioral Abnormalities In clinical studies using an oral formulation of levetiracetam, 13% of adult levetiracetam-treated patients and 38% of pediatric levetiracetam-treated patients (4 to 16 years of age), compared to 6% and 19% of adult and pediatric placebo-treated patients, experienced non-psychotic behavioral symptoms (reported as aggression, agitation, anger, anxiety, apathy, depersonalization, depression, emotional lability, hostility, hyperkinesias, irritability, nervousness, neurosis, and personality disorder).
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was performed to assess the neurocognitive and behavioral effects of an oral formulation of levetiracetam as adjunctive therapy in pediatric patients (4 to 16 years of age).
The results from an exploratory analysis indicated a worsening in levetiracetamtreated patients on aggressive behavior (one of eight behavior dimensions), as measured in a standardized and systematic way using a validated instrument, the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL/6-18).
In clinical studies in pediatric patients 1 month to < 4 years of age, irritability was reported in 12% of the levetiracetam-treated patients compared to 0% of placebo-treated patients.
In clinical studies, 1.7% of adult levetiracetam-treated patients discontinued treatment due to behavioral adverse reactions, compared to 0.2% of placebo-treated patients.
The treatment dose was reduced in 0.8% of adult levetiracetam-treated patients and in 0.5% of placebo-treated patients.
Overall, 11% of levetiracetam-treated pediatric patients experienced behavioral symptoms associated with discontinuation or dose reduction, compared to 6% of placebo-treated patients.
Psychotic Symptoms In clinical studies using an oral formulation of levetiracetam, 1% of levetiracetam-treated adult patients, 2% of levetiracetam-treated pediatric patients 4 to 16 years of age, and 17% of levetiracetam-treated pediatric patients 1 month to < 4 years of age experienced psychotic symptoms, compared to 0.2%, 2%, and 5% in the corresponding age groups treated with placebo.
In a controlled study that assessed the neurocognitive and behavioral effects of an oral formulation of levetiracetam in pediatric patients 4 to 16 years of age, 1.6% of levetiracetam-treated patients experienced paranoia, compared to 0% of placebo-treated patients.
In the same study, 3.1% of levetiracetam-treated patients experienced confusional state, compared to 0% of placebo-treated patients [see Use in Specific Populations].
In clinical studies, two (0.3%) levetiracetam-treated adult patients were hospitalized, and their treatment was discontinued due to psychosis.
Both events, reported as psychosis, developed within the first week of treatment and resolved within 1 to 2 weeks following treatment discontinuation.
There was no difference between drug- and placebo-treated patients in the incidence of the pediatric patients who discontinued treatment due to psychotic and non-psychotic adverse reactions.
Somnolence And Fatigue Levetiracetam may cause somnolence and fatigue.
Patients should be monitored for somnolence and fatigue, and be advised not to drive or operate machinery until they have gained sufficient experience on levetiracetam to gauge whether it adversely affects their ability to drive or operate machinery.
Somnolence In controlled clinical studies using an oral formulation of levetiracetam in adult patients with partial onset seizures, 15% of levetiracetam-treated patients reported somnolence, compared to 8% of placebo-treated patients.
There was no clear dose response up to 3000 mg/day.
In a study in which there was no titration, about 45% of patients receiving levetiracetam 4000 mg/day reported somnolence.
The somnolence was considered serious in 0.3% of levetiracetam-treated patients, compared to 0% in the placebo group.
About 3% of levetiracetam-treated patients discontinued treatment due to somnolence, compared to 0.7% of placebo-treated patients.
In 1.4% of levetiracetam-treated patients and 0.9% of placebo-treated patients, the dose was reduced, while 0.3% of the levetiracetam-treated patients were hospitalized due to somnolence.
Asthenia In controlled clinical studies using an oral formulation of levetiracetam in adult patients with partial onset seizures, 15% of levetiracetam-treated patients reported asthenia, compared to 9% of placebotreated patients.
Treatment was discontinued due to asthenia in 0.8% of levetiracetam-treated patients as compared to 0.5% of placebo-treated patients.
In 0.5% of levetiracetam-treated patients and in 0.2% of placebo-treated patients, the dose was reduced due to asthenia.
Somnolence and asthenia occurred most frequently within the first 4 weeks of treatment.
In general, the incidences of somnolence and fatigue in the pediatric partial onset seizure studies, and in pediatric and adult myoclonic and primary generalized tonic-clonic studies were comparable to those of the adult partial onset seizure studies.
Serious Dermatological Reactions Serious dermatological reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), have been reported in both pediatric and adult patients treated with levetiracetam.
The median time of onset is reported to be 14 to 17 days, but cases have been reported at least four months after initiation of treatment.
Recurrence of the serious skin reactions following rechallenge with levetiracetam has also been reported.
Levetiracetam should be discontinued at the first sign of a rash, unless the rash is clearly not drug-related.
If signs or symptoms suggest SJS/TEN, use of this drug should not be resumed and alternative therapy should be considered.
Coordination Difficulties Levetiracetam may cause coordination difficulties.
In controlled clinical studies using an oral formulation of levetiracetam in adult patients with partial onset seizures, 3.4% of levetiracetam-treated patients experienced coordination difficulties, (reported as ataxia, abnormal gait, or incoordination) compared to 1.6% of placebo-treated patients.
A total of 0.4% of patients in controlled clinical studies discontinued levetiracetam treatment due to ataxia, compared to 0% of placebo-treated patients.
In 0.7% of levetiracetam-treated patients and in 0.2% of placebo-treated patients, the dose was reduced due to coordination difficulties, while one of the treated patients was hospitalized due to worsening of pre-existing ataxia.
These events occurred most frequently within the first 4 weeks of treatment.
Patients should be monitored for signs and symptoms of coordination difficulties and advised not to drive or operate machinery until they have gained sufficient experience on levetiracetam to gauge whether it could adversely affect their ability to drive or operate machinery.
Withdrawal Seizures Antiepileptic drugs, including levetiracetam, should be withdrawn gradually to minimize the potential of increased seizure frequency.
Hematologic Abnormalities Levetiracetam can cause hematologic abnormalities.
Hematologic abnormalities occurred in clinical trials and included decreases in red blood cells count (RBC), hemoglobin, and hematocrit, and increases in eosinophil counts.
Decreased white blood cells count (WBC) and neutrophil counts also occurred in clinical trials.
Cases of agranulocytosis have been reported in the postmarketing setting.
Partial Onset Seizures Adults In controlled clinical studies using an oral formulation of levetiracetam in adult patients with partial onset seizures, minor but statistically significant decreases compared to placebo in total mean RBC (0.03 x 10 /mm³), mean hemoglobin (0.09 g/dL), and mean hematocrit (0.38%), were seen in levetiracetam-treated patients.
A total of 3.2% of levetiracetam-treated and 1.8% of placebo-treated patients had at least one possibly significant ( ≤ 2.8 x 109/L) decreased WBC, and 2.4% of levetiracetam-treated and 1.4% of placebotreated patients had at least one possibly significant ( ≤ 1.0 x 109/L) decreased neutrophil count.
Of the levetiracetam-treated patients with a low neutrophil count, all but one rose towards or to baseline with continued treatment.
No patient was discontinued secondary to low neutrophil counts.
Pediatric Patients 4 Years To < 16 Years In a controlled study in pediatric patients age 4 years to < 16 years, statistically significant decreases in WBC and neutrophil counts were seen in levetiracetam-treated patients, as compared to placebo.
The mean decreases from baseline in the levetiracetam-treated group were -0.4 × 109/L and -0.3 × 109/L, respectively, whereas there were small increases in the placebo group.
Mean relative lymphocyte counts increased by 1.7% in levetiracetam-treated patients, compared to a decrease of 4% in placebotreated patients (statistically significant).
More levetiracetam-treated patients had a possibly clinically significant abnormally low WBC value (3% of levetiracetam-treated patients versus 0% of placebo-treated patients); however, there was no apparent difference between treatment groups with respect to neutrophil count (5% on levetiracetam versus 4.2% on placebo).
No patient was discontinued because of low WBC or neutrophil count.
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to assess the neurocognitive and behavioral effects of an oral formulation of levetiracetam as adjunctive therapy in pediatric patients (4 to 16 years of age), 5 patients (8.6%) in the levetiracetam-treated group and two patients (6.1%) in the placebotreated group had high eosinophil count values that were possibly clinically significant ( ≥ 10% or ≥ 0.7 x 109/L).
Increase In Blood Pressure In a randomized, placebo-controlled study in patients 1 month to < 4 years of age using an oral formulation of levetiracetam, a significantly higher risk of increased diastolic blood pressure was observed in the levetiracetam-treated patients (17%), compared to placebo-treated patients (2%).
There was no overall difference in mean diastolic blood pressure between the treatment groups.
This disparity between the levetiracetam and placebo treatment groups was not observed in the studies of older children or in adults.
Monitor patients 1 month to < 4 years of age for increases in diastolic blood pressure.
Seizure Control During Pregnancy Physiological changes may gradually decrease plasma levels of levetiracetam throughout pregnancy.
This decrease is more pronounced during the third trimester.
It is recommended that patients be monitored carefully during pregnancy.
Close monitoring should continue through the postpartum period especially if the dose was changed during pregnancy.
Nonclinical Toxicology Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment Of Fertility Carcinogenesis Rats were dosed with levetiracetam in the diet for 104 weeks at doses of 50, 300 and 1800 mg/kg/day.
The highest dose is 6 times the maximum recommended daily human dose (MRHD) of 3000 mg on a mg/m² basis and it also provided systemic exposure (AUC) approximately 6 times that achieved in humans receiving the MRHD.
There was no evidence of carcinogenicity.
In mice, oral administration of levetiracetam for 80 weeks (doses up to 960 mg/kg/day) or 2 years (doses up to 4000 mg/kg/day, lowered to 3000 mg/kg/day after 45 weeks due to intolerability) was not associated with an increase in tumors.
The highest dose tested in mice for 2 years (3000 mg/kg/day) is approximately 5 times the MRHD on a mg/m² basis.
Mutagenesis Levetiracetam was not mutagenic in the Ames test or in mammalian cells in vitro in the Chinese hamster ovary/HGPRT locus assay.
It was not clastogenic in an in vitro analysis of metaphase chromosomes obtained from Chinese hamster ovary cells or in an in vivo mouse micronucleus assay.
The hydrolysis product and major human metabolite of levetiracetam (ucb L057) was not mutagenic in the Ames test or the in vitro mouse lymphoma assay.
Impairment Of Fertility No adverse effects on male or female fertility or reproductive performance were observed in rats at oral doses up to 1800 mg/kg/day (6 times the maximum recommended human dose on a mg/m² or systemic exposure [AUC] basis).
Use In Specific Populations Pregnancy Levetiracetam blood levels may decrease during pregnancy [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Pregnancy Category C There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
In animal studies, levetiracetam produced evidence of developmental toxicity, including teratogenic effects, at doses similar to or greater than human therapeutic doses.
Levetiracetam should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.
Oral administration of levetiracetam to female rats throughout pregnancy and lactation led to increased incidences of minor fetal skeletal abnormalities and retarded offspring growth pre- and/or postnatally at doses ≥ 350 mg/kg/day (equivalent to the maximum recommended human dose of 3000 mg [MRHD] on a mg/m² basis) and with increased pup mortality and offspring behavioral alterations at a dose of 1800 mg/kg/day (6 times the MRHD on a mg/m² basis).
The developmental no effect dose was 70 mg/kg/day (0.2 times the MRHD on a mg/m² basis).
There was no overt maternal toxicity at the doses used in this study.
Oral administration of levetiracetam to pregnant rabbits during the period of organogenesis resulted in increased embryofetal mortality and increased incidences of minor fetal skeletal abnormalities at doses ≥ 600 mg/kg/day (4 times MRHD on a mg/m² basis) and in decreased fetal weights and increased incidences of fetal malformations at a dose of 1800 mg/kg/day (12 times the MRHD on a mg/m² basis).
The developmental no effect dose was 200 mg/kg/day (equivalent to the MRHD on a mg/m² basis).
Maternal toxicity was also observed at 1800 mg/kg/day.
When levetiracetam was administered orally to pregnant rats during the period of organogenesis, fetal weights were decreased and the incidence of fetal skeletal variations was increased at a dose of 3600 mg/kg/day (12 times the MRHD).
1200 mg/kg/day (4 times the MRHD) was a developmental no effect dose.
There was no evidence of maternal toxicity in this study.
Treatment of rats during the last third of gestation and throughout lactation produced no adverse developmental or maternal effects at doses of up to 1800 mg/kg/day (6 times the MRHD on a mg/m basis).
Pregnancy Registry To provide information regarding the effects of in utero exposure to levetiracetam, physicians are advised to recommend that pregnant patients taking levetiracetam enroll in the North American Antiepileptic Drug (NAAED) pregnancy registry.
This can be done by calling the toll free number 1- 888-233-2334, and must be done by the patients themselves.
Information on the registry can also be found at the website http://www.aedpregnancyregistry.org/.
Labor And Delivery The effect of levetiracetam on labor and delivery in humans is unknown.
Nursing Mothers Levetiracetam is excreted in human milk.
Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants from levetiracetam, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.
Pediatric Use The safety and effectiveness of levetiracetam in the adjunctive treatment of partial onset seizures in pediatric patients age 1 month to 16 years with epilepsy have been established [see Clinical Studies].
The dosing recommendation in these pediatric patients varies according to age group and is weight-based [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
The safety and effectiveness of levetiracetam as adjunctive treatment of myoclonic seizures in adolescents 12 years of age and older with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy have been established [see Clinical Studies].
The safety and effectiveness of levetiracetam as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in pediatric patients 6 years of age and older with idiopathic generalized epilepsy have been established [see Clinical Studies].
A 3-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was performed to assess the neurocognitive and behavioral effects of levetiracetam as adjunctive therapy in 98 (levetiracetam N=64, placebo N=34) pediatric patients, ages 4 years to 16 years, with partial seizures that were inadequately controlled.
The target dose was 60 mg/kg/day.
Neurocognitive effects were measured by the Leiter-R Attention and Memory (AM) Battery, which measures various aspects of a child's memory and attention.
Although no substantive differences were observed between the placebo and drug treated groups in the median change from baseline in this battery, the study was not adequate to assess formal statistical noninferiority of the drug and placebo.
The Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL/6-18), a standardized validated tool used to assess a child's competencies and behavioral/emotional problems, was also assessed in this study.
An analysis of the CBCL/6-18 indicated, on average, a worsening in levetiracetam-treated patients in aggressive behavior, one of the eight syndrome scores [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Studies of levetiracetam in juvenile rats (dosing from day 4 through day 52 of age) and dogs (dosing from week 3 through week 7 of age) at doses of up to 1800 mg/kg/day (approximately 7 and 24 times, respectively, the maximum recommended pediatric dose of 60 mg/kg/day on a mg/m basis) did not indicate a potential for age-specific toxicity.
Geriatric Use There were 347 subjects in clinical studies of levetiracetam that were 65 years old and over.
No overall differences in safety were observed between these subjects and younger subjects.
There were insufficient numbers of elderly subjects in controlled trials of epilepsy to adequately assess the effectiveness of levetiracetam in these patients.
Levetiracetam is known to be substantially excreted by the kidney, and the risk of adverse reactions to this drug may be greater in patients with impaired renal function.
Because elderly patients are more likely to have decreased renal function, care should be taken in dose selection, and it may be useful to monitor renal function [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
Renal Impairment Clearance of levetiracetam is decreased in patients with renal impairment and is correlated with creatinine clearance [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
Dosage adjustment is recommended for patients with impaired renal function and supplemental doses should be given to patients after dialysis [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Warnings & Precautions WARNINGS Included as part of the PRECAUTIONS section.
PRECAUTIONS Behavioral Abnormalities And Psychotic Symptoms KEPPRA may cause behavioral abnormalities and psychotic symptoms.
Patients treated with KEPPRA should be monitored for psychiatric signs and symptoms.
Behavioral Abnormalities In clinical studies using an oral formulation of KEPPRA, 13% of adult KEPPRA-treated patients and 38% of pediatric KEPPRA-treated patients (4 to 16 years of age), compared to 6% and 19% of adult and pediatric placebo-treated patients, experienced non-psychotic behavioral symptoms (reported as aggression, agitation, anger, anxiety, apathy, depersonalization, depression, emotional lability, hostility, hyperkinesias, irritability, nervousness, neurosis, and personality disorder).
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was performed to assess the neurocognitive and behavioral effects of an oral formulation of KEPPRA as adjunctive therapy in pediatric patients (4 to 16 years of age).
The results from an exploratory analysis indicated a worsening in KEPPRA-treated patients on aggressive behavior (one of eight behavior dimensions), as measured in a standardized and systematic way using a validated instrument, the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL/6-18).
In clinical studies in pediatric patients 1 month to < 4 years of age, irritability was reported in 12% of the KEPPRA-treated patients compared to 0% of placebo-treated patients.
In clinical studies, 1.7% of adult KEPPRA-treated patients discontinued treatment due to behavioral adverse reactions, compared to 0.2% of placebo-treated patients.
The treatment dose was reduced in 0.8% of adult KEPPRA-treated patients and in 0.5% of placebo-treated patients.
Overall, 11% of KEPPRA-treated pediatric patients experienced behavioral symptoms associated with discontinuation or dose reduction, compared to 6% of placebo-treated patients.
Psychotic Symptoms In clinical studies using an oral formulation of KEPPRA, 1% of KEPPRA-treated adult patients, 2% of KEPPRA-treated pediatric patients 4 to 16 years of age, and 17% of KEPPRA-treated pediatric patients 1 month to < 4 years of age experienced psychotic symptoms, compared to 0.2%, 2%, and 5% in the corresponding age groups treated with placebo.
In a controlled study that assessed the neurocognitive and behavioral effects of an oral formulation of KEPPRA in pediatric patients 4 to 16 years of age, 1.6% of KEPPRA-treated patients experienced paranoia, compared to 0% of placebo-treated patients.
In the same study, 3.1% of KEPPRA-treated patients experienced confusional state, compared to 0% of placebo-treated patients [see Use in Specific Populations].
In clinical studies, two (0.3%) KEPPRA-treated adult patients were hospitalized, and their treatment was discontinued due to psychosis.
Both events, reported as psychosis, developed within the first week of treatment and resolved within 1 to 2 weeks following treatment discontinuation.
There was no difference between drug- and placebo-treated patients in the incidence of the pediatric patients who discontinued treatment due to psychotic and non-psychotic adverse reactions.
Somnolence And Fatigue KEPPRA may cause somnolence and fatigue.
Patients should be monitored for somnolence and fatigue, and be advised not to drive or operate machinery until they have gained sufficient experience on KEPPRA to gauge whether it adversely affects their ability to drive or operate machinery.
Somnolence In controlled clinical studies using an oral formulation of KEPPRA in adult patients with partial onset seizures, 15% of KEPPRA-treated patients reported somnolence, compared to 8% of placebo-treated patients.
There was no clear dose response up to 3000 mg/day.
In a study in which there was no titration, about 45% of patients receiving KEPPRA 4000 mg/day reported somnolence.
The somnolence was considered serious in 0.3% of KEPPRA-treated patients, compared to 0% in the placebo group.
About 3% of KEPPRA-treated patients discontinued treatment due to somnolence, compared to 0.7% of placebo-treated patients.
In 1.4% of KEPPRA-treated patients and 0.9% of placebo-treated patients, the dose was reduced, while 0.3% of the KEPPRA-treated patients were hospitalized due to somnolence.
Asthenia In controlled clinical studies using an oral formulation of KEPPRA in adult patients with partial onset seizures, 15% of KEPPRA-treated patients reported asthenia, compared to 9% of placebo-treated patients.
Treatment was discontinued due to asthenia in 0.8% of KEPPRA-treated patients as compared to 0.5% of placebo-treated patients.
In 0.5% of KEPPRA-treated patients and in 0.2% of placebo-treated patients, the dose was reduced due to asthenia.
Somnolence and asthenia occurred most frequently within the first 4 weeks of treatment.
In general, the incidences of somnolence and fatigue in the pediatric partial onset seizure studies, and in pediatric and adult myoclonic and primary generalized tonic-clonic studies were comparable to those of the adult partial onset seizure studies.
Serious Dermatological Reactions Serious dermatological reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), have been reported in both pediatric and adult patients treated with KEPPRA.
The median time of onset is reported to be 14 to 17 days, but cases have been reported at least four months after initiation of treatment.
Recurrence of the serious skin reactions following rechallenge with KEPPRA has also been reported.
KEPPRA should be discontinued at the first sign of a rash, unless the rash is clearly not drug-related.
If signs or symptoms suggest SJS/TEN, use of this drug should not be resumed and alternative therapy should be considered.
Coordination Difficulties KEPPRA may cause coordination difficulties.
In controlled clinical studies using an oral formulation of KEPPRA in adult patients with partial onset seizures, 3.4% of KEPPRA-treated patients experienced coordination difficulties, (reported as ataxia, abnormal gait, or incoordination) compared to 1.6% of placebo-treated patients.
A total of 0.4% of patients in controlled clinical studies discontinued KEPPRA treatment due to ataxia, compared to 0% of placebo-treated patients.
In 0.7% of KEPPRA-treated patients and in 0.2% of placebo-treated patients, the dose was reduced due to coordination difficulties, while one of the treated patients was hospitalized due to worsening of pre-existing ataxia.
These events occurred most frequently within the first 4 weeks of treatment.
Patients should be monitored for signs and symptoms of coordination difficulties and advised not to drive or operate machinery until they have gained sufficient experience on KEPPRA to gauge whether it could adversely affect their ability to drive or operate machinery.
Withdrawal Seizures Antiepileptic drugs, including KEPPRA, should be withdrawn gradually to minimize the potential of increased seizure frequency.
Hematologic Abnormalities KEPPRA can cause hematologic abnormalities.
Hematologic abnormalities occurred in clinical trials and included decreases in red blood cells count (RBC), hemoglobin, and hematocrit, and increases in eosinophil counts.
Decreased white blood cells count (WBC) and neutrophil counts also occurred in clinical trials.
Cases of agranulocytosis have been reported in the postmarketing setting.
Partial Onset Seizures Adults In controlled clinical studies using an oral formulation of KEPPRA in adult patients with partial onset seizures, minor but statistically significant decreases compared to placebo in total mean RBC (0.03 × 109/mm³), mean hemoglobin (0.09 g/dL), and mean hematocrit (0.38%), were seen in KEPPRA-treated patients.
A total of 3.2% of KEPPRA-treated and 1.8% of placebo-treated patients had at least one possibly significant ( ≤ 2.8 × 109/L) decreased WBC, and 2.4% of KEPPRA-treated and 1.4% of placebo-treated patients had at least one possibly significant ( ≤ 1.0 × 109/L) decreased neutrophil count.
Of the KEPPRA-treated patients with a low neutrophil count, all but one rose towards or to baseline with continued treatment.
No patient was discontinued secondary to low neutrophil counts.
Pediatric Patients 4 Years To < 16 Years In a controlled study in pediatric patients age 4 years to < 16 years, statistically significant decreases in WBC and neutrophil counts were seen in KEPPRA-treated patients, as compared to placebo.
The mean decreases from baseline in the KEPPRA-treated group were -0.4 × 109/L and -0.3 × 109/L, respectively, whereas there were small increases in the placebo group.
Mean relative lymphocyte counts increased by 1.7% in KEPPRA-treated patients, compared to a decrease of 4% in placebo-treated patients (statistically significant).
More KEPPRA-treated patients had a possibly clinically significant abnormally low WBC value (3% of KEPPRA-treated patients versus 0% of placebo-treated patients); however, there was no apparent difference between treatment groups with respect to neutrophil count (5% on KEPPRA versus 4.2% on placebo).
No patient was discontinued because of low WBC or neutrophil count.
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to assess the neurocognitive and behavioral effects of an oral formulation of KEPPRA as adjunctive therapy in pediatric patients (4 to 16 years of age), 5 patients (8.6%) in the KEPPRA-treated group and two patients (6.1%) in the placebo-treated group had high eosinophil count values that were possibly clinically significant ( ≥ 10% or ≥ 0.7×109/L).
Increase In Blood Pressure In a randomized, placebo-controlled study in patients 1 month to < 4 years of age using an oral formulation of KEPPRA, a significantly higher risk of increased diastolic blood pressure was observed in the KEPPRA-treated patients (17%), compared to placebo-treated patients (2%).
There was no overall difference in mean diastolic blood pressure between the treatment groups.
This disparity between the KEPPRA and placebo treatment groups was not observed in the studies of older children or in adults.
Monitor patients 1 month to < 4 years of age for increases in diastolic blood pressure.
Seizure Control During Pregnancy Physiological changes may gradually decrease plasma levels of levetiracetam throughout pregnancy.
This decrease is more pronounced during the third trimester.
It is recommended that patients be monitored carefully during pregnancy.
Close monitoring should continue through the postpartum period especially if the dose was changed during pregnancy.
Nonclinical Toxicology Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment Of Fertility Carcinogenesis Rats were dosed with levetiracetam in the diet for 104 weeks at doses of 50, 300 and 1800 mg/kg/day.
The highest dose is 6 times the maximum recommended daily human dose (MRHD) of 3000 mg on a mg/m basis and it also provided systemic exposure (AUC) approximately 6 times that achieved in humans receiving the MRHD.
There was no evidence of carcinogenicity.
In mice, oral administration of levetiracetam for 80 weeks (doses up to 960 mg/kg/day) or 2 years (doses up to 4000 mg/kg/day, lowered to 3000 mg/kg/day after 45 weeks due to intolerability) was not associated with an increase in tumors.
The highest dose tested in mice for 2 years (3000 mg/kg/day) is approximately 5 times the MRHD on a mg/m² basis.
Mutagenesis Levetiracetam was not mutagenic in the Ames test or in mammalian cells in vitro in the Chinese hamster ovary/HGPRT locus assay.
It was not clastogenic in an in vitro analysis of metaphase chromosomes obtained from Chinese hamster ovary cells or in an in vivo mouse micronucleus assay.
The hydrolysis product and major human metabolite of levetiracetam (ucb L057) was not mutagenic in the Ames test or the in vitro mouse lymphoma assay.
Impairment Of Fertility No adverse effects on male or female fertility or reproductive performance were observed in rats at oral doses up to 1800 mg/kg/day (6 times the maximum recommended human dose on a mg/m or systemic exposure [AUC] basis).
Use In Specific Populations Pregnancy Levetiracetam blood levels may decrease during pregnancy [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Pregnancy Category C There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
In animal studies, levetiracetam produced evidence of developmental toxicity, including teratogenic effects, at doses similar to or greater than human therapeutic doses.
KEPPRA should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.
Oral administration of levetiracetam to female rats throughout pregnancy and lactation led to increased incidences of minor fetal skeletal abnormalities and retarded offspring growth pre- and/or postnatally at doses ≥ 350 mg/kg/day (equivalent to the maximum recommended human dose of 3000 mg [MRHD] on a mg/m basis) and with increased pup mortality and offspring behavioral alterations at a dose of 1800 mg/kg/day (6 times the MRHD on a mg/m basis).
The developmental no effect dose was 70 mg/kg/day (0.2 times the MRHD on a mg/m² basis).
There was no overt maternal toxicity at the doses used in this study.
Oral administration of levetiracetam to pregnant rabbits during the period of organogenesis resulted in increased embryofetal mortality and increased incidences of minor fetal skeletal abnormalities at doses ≥ 600 mg/kg/day (4 times MRHD on a mg/m² basis) and in decreased fetal weights and increased incidences of fetal malformations at a dose of 1800 mg/kg/day (12 times the MRHD on a mg/m basis).
The developmental no effect dose was 200 mg/kg/day (equivalent to the MRHD on a mg/m basis).
Maternal toxicity was also observed at 1800 mg/kg/day.
When levetiracetam was administered orally to pregnant rats during the period of organogenesis, fetal weights were decreased and the incidence of fetal skeletal variations was increased at a dose of 3600 mg/kg/day (12 times the MRHD).
1200 mg/kg/day (4 times the MRHD) was a developmental no effect dose.
There was no evidence of maternal toxicity in this study.
Treatment of rats during the last third of gestation and throughout lactation produced no adverse developmental or maternal effects at doses of up to 1800 mg/kg/day (6 times the MRHD on a mg/m² basis).
Pregnancy Registry To provide information regarding the effects of in utero exposure to KEPPRA, physicians are advised to recommend that pregnant patients taking KEPPRA enroll in the North American Antiepileptic Drug (NAAED) pregnancy registry.
This can be done by calling the toll free number 1-888-233-2334, and must be done by the patients themselves.
Information on the registry can also be found at the website http://www.aedpregnancyregistry.org/.
Labor and Delivery The effect of KEPPRA on labor and delivery in humans is unknown.
Nursing Mothers Levetiracetam is excreted in human milk.
Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants from KEPPRA, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.
Pediatric Use The safety and effectiveness of KEPPRA in the adjunctive treatment of partial onset seizures in pediatric patients age 1 month to 16 years with epilepsy have been established [see Clinical Studies].
The dosing recommendation in these pediatric patients varies according to age group and is weight-based [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
The safety and effectiveness of KEPPRA as adjunctive treatment of myoclonic seizures in adolescents 12 years of age and older with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy have been established [see Clinical Studies].
The safety and effectiveness of KEPPRA as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in pediatric patients 6 years of age and older with idiopathic generalized epilepsy have been established [see Clinical Studies].
A 3-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was performed to assess the neurocognitive and behavioral effects of KEPPRA as adjunctive therapy in 98 (KEPPRA N=64, placebo N=34) pediatric patients, ages 4 years to 16 years, with partial seizures that were inadequately controlled.
The target dose was 60 mg/kg/day.
Neurocognitive effects were measured by the Leiter-R Attention and Memory (AM) Battery, which measures various aspects of a child's memory and attention.
Although no substantive differences were observed between the placebo and drug treated groups in the median change from baseline in this battery, the study was not adequate to assess formal statistical noninferiority of the drug and placebo.
The Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL/6-18), a standardized validated tool used to assess a child's competencies and behavioral/emotional problems, was also assessed in this study.
An analysis of the CBCL/6-18 indicated, on average, a worsening in KEPPRA-treated patients in aggressive behavior, one of the eight syndrome scores [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Studies of levetiracetam in juvenile rats (dosing from day 4 through day 52 of age) and dogs (dosing from week 3 through week 7 of age) at doses of up to 1800 mg/kg/day (approximately 7 and 24 times, respectively, the maximum recommended pediatric dose of 60 mg/kg/day on a mg/m² basis) did not indicate a potential for age-specific toxicity.
Geriatric Use There were 347 subjects in clinical studies of levetiracetam that were 65 years old and over.
No overall differences in safety were observed between these subjects and younger subjects.
There were insufficient numbers of elderly subjects in controlled trials of epilepsy to adequately assess the effectiveness of KEPPRA in these patients.
Levetiracetam is known to be substantially excreted by the kidney, and the risk of adverse reactions to this drug may be greater in patients with impaired renal function.
Because elderly patients are more likely to have decreased renal function, care should be taken in dose selection, and it may be useful to monitor renal function [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
Renal Impairment Clearance of levetiracetam is decreased in patients with renal impairment and is correlated with creatinine clearance [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
Dosage adjustment is recommended for patients with impaired renal function and supplemental doses should be given to patients after dialysis [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Warnings & Precautions WARNINGS Included as part of the PRECAUTIONS section.
PRECAUTIONS Behavioral Abnormalities And Psychotic Symptoms KEPPRA may cause behavioral abnormalities and psychotic symptoms.
Patients treated with KEPPRA should be monitored for psychiatric signs and symptoms.
Behavioral Abnormalities In clinical studies, 13% of adult KEPPRA-treated patients and 38% of pediatric KEPPRA-treated patients (4 to 16 years of age) compared to 6% and 19% of adult and pediatric placebo-treated patients, experienced non-psychotic behavioral symptoms (reported as aggression, agitation, anger, anxiety, apathy, depersonalization, depression, emotional lability, hostility, hyperkinesias, irritability, nervousness, neurosis, and personality disorder).
A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study was performed to assess the neurocognitive and behavioral effects of KEPPRA as adjunctive therapy in pediatric patients (4 to 16 years of age).
The results from an exploratory analysis indicated a worsening in KEPPRA-treated patients on aggressive behavior (one of eight behavior dimensions) as measured in a standardized and systematic way using a validated instrument, the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL/6-18).
In clinical studies in pediatric patients 1 month to < 4 years of age, irritability was reported in 12% of the KEPPRAtreated patients compared to 0% of placebo-treated patients.
In clinical studies, 1.7% of adult KEPPRA-treated patients discontinued treatment due to behavioral adverse reactions, compared to 0.2% of placebo-treated patients.
The treatment dose was reduced in 0.8% of adult KEPPRA-treated patients and in 0.5% of placebo-treated patients.
Overall, 11% of KEPPRA-treated pediatric patients experienced behavioral symptoms associated with discontinuation or dose reduction, compared to 6% of placebo-treated patients.
Psychotic Symptoms In clinical studies, 1% of KEPPRA-treated adult patients, 2% of KEPPRA-treated pediatric patients 4 to 16 years of age, and 17% of KEPPRA-treated pediatric patients 1 month to <4 years of age experienced psychotic symptoms, compared to 0.2%, 2%, and 5% in the corresponding age groups treated with placebo.
In a controlled study that assessed the neurocognitive and behavioral effects of KEPPRA in pediatric patients 4 to 16 years of age, 1.6% of KEPPRA-treated patients experienced paranoia, compared to 0% of placebo-treated patients.
In the same study, 3.1% of KEPPRA-treated patients experienced confusional state, compared to 0% of placebo-treated patients [see Use In Specific Populations].
In clinical studies, two (0.3%) KEPPRA-treated adult patients were hospitalized and their treatment was discontinued due to psychosis.
Both events, reported as psychosis, developed within the first week of treatment and resolved within 1 to 2 weeks following treatment discontinuation.
There was no difference between drug and placebo-treated patients in the incidence of the pediatric patients who discontinued treatment due to psychotic and non-psychotic adverse reactions.
Suicidal Behavior And Ideation Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), including KEPPRA, increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior in patients taking these drugs for any indication.
Patients treated with any AED for any indication should be monitored for the emergence or worsening of depression, suicidal thoughts or behavior, and/or any unusual changes in mood or behavior.
Pooled analyses of 199 placebo-controlled clinical trials (mono- and adjunctive therapy) of 11 different AEDs showed that patients randomized to one of the AEDs had approximately twice the risk (adjusted Relative Risk 1.8, 95% CI:1.2, 2.7) of suicidal thinking or behavior compared to patients randomized to placebo.
In these trials, which had a median treatment duration of 12 weeks, the estimated incidence rate of suicidal behavior or ideation among 27,863 AED-treated patients was 0.43%, compared to 0.24% among 16,029 placebo-treated patients, representing an increase of approximately one case of suicidal thinking or behavior for every 530 patients treated.
There were four suicides in drug-treated patients in the trials and none in placebo-treated patients, but the number is too small to allow any conclusion about drug effect on suicide.
The increased risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior with AEDs was observed as early as one week after starting drug treatment with AEDs and persisted for the duration of treatment assessed.
Because most trials included in the analysis did not extend beyond 24 weeks, the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior beyond 24 weeks could not be assessed.
The risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior was generally consistent among drugs in the data analyzed.
The finding of increased risk with AEDs of varying mechanisms of action and across a range of indications suggests that the risk applies to all AEDs used for any indication.
The risk did not vary substantially by age (5-100 years) in the clinical trials analyzed.
Table 2 shows absolute and relative risk by indication for all evaluated AEDs.
Table 2: Risk by Indication for Antiepileptic Drugs in the Pooled Analysis Indication Placebo Patients with Events Per 1000 Patients Drug Patients with Events Per 1000 Patients Relative Risk: Incidence of Events in Drug Patients/Incidence in Placebo Patients Risk Difference: Additional Drug Patients with Events Per 1000 Patients Epilepsy 1.0 3.4 3.5 2.4 Psychiatric 5.7 8.5 1.5 2.9 Other 1.0 1.8 1.9 0.9 Total 2.4 4.3 1.8 1.9 The relative risk for suicidal thoughts or behavior was higher in clinical trials for epilepsy than in clinical trials for psychiatric or other conditions, but the absolute risk differences were similar for the epilepsy and psychiatric indications.
Anyone considering prescribing KEPPRA or any other AED must balance the risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviors with the risk of untreated illness.
Epilepsy and many other illnesses for which AEDs are prescribed are themselves associated with morbidity and mortality and an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior.
Should suicidal thoughts and behavior emerge during treatment, the prescriber needs to consider whether the emergence of these symptoms in any given patient may be related to the illness being treated.
Patients, their caregivers, and families should be informed that AEDs increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior and should be advised of the need to be alert for the emergence or worsening of the signs and symptoms of depression, any unusual changes in mood or behavior, or the emergence of suicidal thoughts, behavior, or thoughts about selfharm.
Behaviors of concern should be reported immediately to healthcare providers.
Somnolence And Fatigue KEPPRA may cause somnolence and fatigue.
Patients should be monitored for these signs and symptoms and advised not to drive or operate machinery until they have gained sufficient experience on KEPPRA to gauge whether it adversely affects their ability to drive or operate machinery.
Somnolence In controlled trials of adult patients with epilepsy experiencing partial onset seizures, 15% of KEPPRA-treated patients reported somnolence, compared to 8% of placebo-treated patients.
There was no clear dose response up to 3000 mg/day.
In a study where there was no titration, about 45% of patients receiving 4000 mg/day reported somnolence.
The somnolence was considered serious in 0.3% of KEPPRA-treated patients, compared to 0% in the placebo group.
About 3% of KEPPRA-treated patients discontinued treatment due to somnolence, compared to 0.7% of placebotreated patients.
In 1.4% of KEPPRA-treated patients and 0.9% of placebo-treated patients, the dose was reduced, while 0.3% of the KEPPRA-treated patients were hospitalized due to somnolence.
Asthenia In controlled clinical studies of adult patients with epilepsy experiencing partial onset seizures, 15% of KEPPRAtreated patients reported asthenia, compared to 9% of placebo-treated patients.
Treatment was discontinued due to asthenia in 0.8% of KEPPRA-treated patients as compared to 0.5% of placebo-treated patients.
In 0.5% of KEPPRAtreated patients and in 0.2% of placebo-treated patients, the dose was reduced due to asthenia.
Somnolence and asthenia occurred most frequently within the first 4 weeks of treatment.
In general, the incidences of somnolence and fatigue in the pediatric partial onset seizure studies, and in pediatric and adult myoclonic and primary generalized tonic-clonic seizure studies were comparable to those of the adult partial onset seizure studies.
Anaphylaxis And Angioedema KEPPRA can cause anaphylaxis or angioedema after the first dose or at any time during treatment.
Signs and symptoms in cases reported in the postmarketing setting have included hypotension, hives, rash, respiratory distress, and swelling of the face, lip, mouth, eye, tongue, throat, and feet.
In some reported cases, reactions were lifethreatening and required emergency treatment.
If a patient develops signs or symptoms of anaphylaxis or angioedema, KEPPRA should be discontinued and the patient should seek immediate medical attention.
KEPPRA should be discontinued permanently if a clear alternative etiology for the reaction cannot be established [see CONTRAINDICATIONS].
Serious Dermatological Reactions Serious dermatological reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), have been reported in both pediatric and adult patients treated with KEPPRA.
The median time of onset is reported to be 14 to 17 days, but cases have been reported at least four months after initiation of treatment.
Recurrence of the serious skin reactions following rechallenge with KEPPRA has also been reported.
KEPPRA should be discontinued at the first sign of a rash, unless the rash is clearly not drug-related.
If signs or symptoms suggest SJS/TEN, use of this drug should not be resumed and alternative therapy should be considered.
Coordination Difficulties KEPPRA may cause coordination difficulties.
In controlled clinical studies in adult patients with partial onset seizure studies, 3.4% of adult KEPPRA-treated patients experienced coordination difficulties, (reported as either ataxia, abnormal gait, or incoordination) compared to 1.6% of placebo-treated patients.
A total of 0.4% of patients in controlled clinical studies discontinued KEPPRA treatment due to ataxia, compared to 0% of placebo-treated patients.
In 0.7% of KEPPRA-treated patients and in 0.2% of placebo-treated patients, the dose was reduced due to coordination difficulties, while one of the KEPPRA-treated patients was hospitalized due to worsening of pre-existing ataxia.
These events occurred most frequently within the first 4 weeks of treatment.
Patients should be monitored for these signs and symptoms and advised not to drive or operate machinery until they have gained sufficient experience on KEPPRA to gauge whether it could adversely affect their ability to drive or operate machinery.
Withdrawal Seizures Antiepileptic drugs, including KEPPRA, should be withdrawn gradually to minimize the potential of increased seizure frequency.
Hematologic Abnormalities KEPPRA can cause hematologic abnormalities.
Hematologic abnormalities occurred in clinical trials and included decreases in white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil, and red blood cell (RBC) counts; decreases in hemoglobin and hematocrit; and increases in eosinophil counts.
Cases of agranulocytosis, pancytopenia, and thrombocytopenia have been reported in the postmarketing setting.
A complete blood count is recommended in patients experiencing significant weakness, pyrexia, recurrent infections, or coagulation disorders.
Partial Onset Seizures Adults Minor, but statistically significant, decreases compared to placebo in total mean RBC count (0.03 x 106/mm³), mean hemoglobin (0.09 g/dL), and mean hematocrit (0.38%), were seen in KEPPRA-treated patients in controlled trials.
A total of 3.2% of KEPPRA-treated and 1.8% of placebo-treated patients had at least one possibly significant (≤ 2.8 x 109/L) decreased WBC, and 2.4% of KEPPRA-treated and 1.4% of placebo-treated patients had at least one possibly significant (≤ 1.0 x 109/L) decreased neutrophil count.
Of the KEPPRA-treated patients with a low neutrophil count, all but one rose towards or to baseline with continued treatment.
No patient was discontinued secondary to low neutrophil counts.
Pediatric Patients 4 Years To < 16 Years Statistically significant decreases in WBC and neutrophil counts were seen in KEPPRA-treated patients as compared to placebo.
The mean decreases from baseline in the KEPPRA-treated group were -0.4 × 109/L and -0.3 × 109/L, respectively, whereas there were small increases in the placebo group.
Mean relative lymphocyte counts increased by 1.7% in KEPPRA-treated patients, compared to a decrease of 4% in placebo patients (statistically significant).
In the controlled trial, more KEPPRA-treated patients had a possibly clinically significant abnormally low WBC value (3% of KEPPRA-treated patients versus 0% of placebo-treated patients), however, there was no apparent difference between treatment groups with respect to neutrophil count (5% of KEPPRA-treated patients versus 4.2% of placebotreated patients).
No patient was discontinued secondary to low WBC or neutrophil counts.
In the controlled cognitive and neuropsychological safety study, 5 patients (8.6%) in the KEPPRA-treated group and two patients (6.1%) in the placebo-treated group had high eosinophil count values that were possibly clinically significant (≥ 10% or ≥ 0.7X109/L).
Increase In Blood Pressure In a randomized, placebo-controlled study in patients 1 month to <4 years of age, a significantly higher risk of increased diastolic blood pressure was observed in the KEPPRA-treated patients (17%), compared to the placebo-treated patients (2%).
There was no overall difference in mean diastolic blood pressure between the treatment groups.
This disparity between the KEPPRA and placebo treatment groups was not observed in the studies of older children or in adults.
Monitor patients 1 month to <4 years of age for increases in diastolic blood pressure.
Seizure Control During Pregnancy Physiological changes may gradually decrease plasma levels of levetiracetam throughout pregnancy.
This decrease is more pronounced during the third trimester.
It is recommended that patients be monitored carefully during pregnancy.
Close monitoring should continue through the postpartum period especially if the dose was changed during pregnancy.
Patient Counseling Information Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (Medication Guide).
Psychiatric Reactions And Changes In Behavior Advise patients that KEPPRA may cause changes in behavior (e.g.
aggression, agitation, anger, anxiety, apathy, depression, hostility, and irritability) and psychotic symptoms [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Suicidal Behavior And Ideation Counsel patients, their caregivers, and/or families that antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), including KEPPRA, may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior and advise patients to be alert for the emergence or worsening of symptoms of depression; unusual changes in mood or behavior; or suicidal thoughts, behavior, or thoughts about self-harm.
Advise patients, their caregivers, and/or families to immediately report behaviors of concern to a healthcare provider [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Effects On Driving Or Operating Machinery Inform patients that KEPPRA may cause dizziness and somnolence.
Inform patients not to drive or operate machinery until they have gained sufficient experience on KEPPRA to gauge whether it adversely affects their ability to drive or operate machinery [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Anaphylaxis And Angioedema Advise patients to discontinue KEPPRA and seek medical care if they develop signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis or angioedema [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Dermatological Adverse Reactions Advise patients that serious dermatological adverse reactions have occurred in patients treated with KEPPRA and instruct them to call their physician immediately if a rash develops [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Pregnancy Advise patients to notify their healthcare provider if they become pregnant or intend to become pregnant during KEPPRA therapy.
Encourage patients to enroll in the North American Antiepileptic Drug (NAAED) pregnancy registry if they become pregnant.
This registry is collecting information about the safety of antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy.
To enroll, patients can call the toll free number 1-888-233-2334 [see Use In Specific Populations].
Nonclinical Toxicology Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment Of Fertility Carcinogenesis Rats were dosed with levetiracetam in the diet for 104 weeks at doses of 50, 300 and 1800 mg/kg/day.
The highest dose is 6 times the maximum recommended daily human dose (MRHD) of 3000 mg on a mg/m² basis and it also provided systemic exposure (AUC) approximately 6 times that achieved in humans receiving the MRHD.
There was no evidence of carcinogenicity.
In mice, oral administration of levetiracetam for 80 weeks (doses up to 960 mg/kg/day) or 2 years (doses up to 4000 mg/kg/day, lowered to 3000 mg/kg/day after 45 weeks due to intolerability) was not associated with an increase in tumors.
The highest dose tested in mice for 2 years (3000 mg/kg/day) is approximately 5 times the MRHD on a mg/m² basis.
Mutagenesis Levetiracetam was not mutagenic in the Ames test or in mammalian cells in vitro in the Chinese hamster ovary/HGPRT locus assay.
It was not clastogenic in an in vitro analysis of metaphase chromosomes obtained from Chinese hamster ovary cells or in an in vivo mouse micronucleus assay.
The hydrolysis product and major human metabolite of levetiracetam (ucb L057) was not mutagenic in the Ames test or the in vitro mouse lymphoma assay.
Impairment Of Fertility No adverse effects on male or female fertility or reproductive performance were observed in rats at oral doses up to 1800 mg/kg/day (6 times the maximum recommended human dose on a mg/m² or systemic exposure [AUC] basis).
Use In Specific Populations Pregnancy Levetiracetam blood levels may decrease during pregnancy [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Pregnancy Category C There are no adequate and controlled studies in pregnant women.
In animal studies, levetiracetam produced evidence of developmental toxicity, including teratogenic effects, at doses similar to or greater than human therapeutic doses.
KEPPRA should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.
Oral administration of levetiracetam to female rats throughout pregnancy and lactation led to increased incidences of minor fetal skeletal abnormalities and retarded offspring growth pre- and/or postnatally at doses ≥ 350 mg/kg/day (equivalent to the maximum recommended human dose of 3000 mg [MRHD] on a mg/m² basis) and with increased pup mortality and offspring behavioral alterations at a dose of 1800 mg/kg/day (6 times the MRHD on a mg/m² basis).
The developmental no effect dose was 70 mg/kg/day (0.2 times the MRHD on a mg/m² basis).
There was no overt maternal toxicity at the doses used in this study.
Oral administration of levetiracetam to pregnant rabbits during the period of organogenesis resulted in increased embryofetal mortality and increased incidences of minor fetal skeletal abnormalities at doses ≥ 600 mg/kg/day (4 times MRHD on a mg/m² basis) and in decreased fetal weights and increased incidences of fetal malformations at a dose of 1800 mg/kg/day (12 times the MRHD on a mg/m² basis).
The developmental no effect dose was 200 mg/kg/day (equivalent to the MRHD on a mg/m² basis).
Maternal toxicity was also observed at 1800 mg/kg/day.
When levetiracetam was administered orally to pregnant rats during the period of organogenesis, fetal weights were decreased and the incidence of fetal skeletal variations was increased at a dose of 3600 mg/kg/day (12 times the MRHD).
1200 mg/kg/day (4 times the MRHD) was a developmental no effect dose.
There was no evidence of maternal toxicity in this study.
Treatment of rats with levetiracetam during the last third of gestation and throughout lactation produced no adverse developmental or maternal effects at doses of up to 1800 mg/kg/day (6 times the MRHD on a mg/m² basis).
Pregnancy Registry To provide information regarding the effects of in utero exposure to KEPPRA, physicians are advised to recommend that pregnant patients taking KEPPRA enroll in the North American Antiepileptic Drug (NAAED) pregnancy registry.
This can be done by calling the toll free number 1-888-233-2334, and must be done by the patients themselves.
Information on the registry can also be found at the website http://www.aedpregnancyregistry.org/.
Labor And Delivery The effect of KEPPRA on labor and delivery in humans is unknown.
Nursing Mothers Levetiracetam is excreted in human milk.
Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants from KEPPRA, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.
Pediatric Use The safety and effectiveness of KEPPRA in the adjunctive treatment of partial onset seizures in pediatric patients age 1 month to 16 years old with epilepsy have been established [see Clinical Studies].
The dosing recommendation in these pediatric patients varies according to age group and is weight-based [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
The safety and effectiveness of KEPPRA as adjunctive treatment of myoclonic seizures in adolescents 12 years of age and older with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy have been established [see Clinical Studies].
The safety and effectiveness of KEPPRA as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in pediatric patients 6 years of age and older with idiopathic generalized epilepsy have been established [see Clinical Studies].
A 3-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was performed to assess the neurocognitive and behavioral effects of KEPPRA as adjunctive therapy in 98 (KEPPRA N=64, placebo N=34) pediatric patients, ages 4 to 16 years old, with partial seizures that were inadequately controlled.
The target dose was 60 mg/kg/day.
Neurocognitive effects were measured by the Leiter-R Attention and Memory (AM) Battery, which measures various aspects of a child's memory and attention.
Although no substantive differences were observed between the placebo and drug treated groups in the median change from baseline in this battery, the study was not adequate to assess formal statistical non-inferiority of the drug and placebo.
The Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL/6-18), a standardized validated tool used to assess a child's competencies and behavioral/emotional problems, was also assessed in this study.
An analysis of the CBCL/6-18 indicated on average a worsening in KEPPRA-treated patients in aggressive behavior, one of the eight syndrome scores [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Studies of levetiracetam in juvenile rats (dosing from day 4 through day 52 of age) and dogs (dosing from week 3 through week 7 of age) at doses of up to 1800 mg/kg/day (approximately 7 and 24 times, respectively, the maximum recommended pediatric dose of 60 mg/kg/day on a mg/m² basis) did not indicate a potential for age-specific toxicity.
Geriatric Use There were 347 subjects in clinical studies of KEPPRA that were 65 and over.
No overall differences in safety were observed between these subjects and younger subjects.
There were insufficient numbers of elderly subjects in controlled trials of epilepsy to adequately assess the effectiveness of KEPPRA in these patients.
Levetiracetam is known to be substantially excreted by the kidney, and the risk of adverse reactions to this drug may be greater in patients with impaired renal function.
Because elderly patients are more likely to have decreased renal function, care should be taken in dose selection, and it may be useful to monitor renal function [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
Renal Impairment Clearance of levetiracetam is decreased in patients with renal impairment and is correlated with creatinine clearance [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
Dose adjustment is recommended for patients with impaired renal function and supplemental doses should be given to patients after dialysis [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
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