Levetiracetam and Adverse Psychiatric Events: Who Is at Risk?

Levetiracetam, a commonly used first-line antiepileptic drug (AED), has been associated with adverse effects such as depression and anxiety. To predict the risk for these events, researchers retrospectively analyzed a large database involving 1173 patients in the U.K. with epilepsy and receiving levetiracetam (median age, 39; 50% women), followed for ≥2 years or until a psychiatric sign, symptom, or disorder was documented on the database.

A psychiatric symptom or disorder was found in 14.1%. The most common were depression (65%), behavioral issues (18%), and anxiety (13%). The risk was elevated for patients with greater social deprivation (odds ratio, 1.15), women (OR, 1.41), and especially those with a history of depression (OR, 2.20), anx…