An open trial of levetiracetam for segmental and generalized dystonia.

Abstract

Local botulinum toxin injections represent the treatment of choice for most patients with focal dystonia. However, patients with segmental or generalized forms require additional pharmacologic treatment which is often ineffective or limited by intolerable side-effects. An animal study and three case reports suggested antidystonic effects of levetiracetam, a pyrrolidone derivate, whereas a recent open-label study found no improvement in 10 patients with primary idiopathic cervical dystonia. We studied the efficacy of levetiracetam in a daily dose of 3000 mg in 10 consecutive patients with otherwise therapy refractory segmental or generalized dystonia. At 4-week follow-up, none of the patients showed improvement of dystonia, mild side-effects were observed in 3 patients.

• Authors: Sascha Hering, Gregor K Wenning, Klaus Seppi, Werner Poewe, Joerg Mueller
• Journal: Movement disorders : official journal of the Movement Disorder Society (Mov Disord) Vol. 22 Issue 11 Pg. 1649-51 (Aug 15 2007) ISSN: 0885-3185 [Print] United States
• PMID: 17557353 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright (c) 2007 Movement Disorder Society.

Chemical References

• Anticonvulsants
• Levetiracetam
• Piracetam

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Anticonvulsants (therapeutic use)
• Dystonia (classification, drug therapy)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Levetiracetam
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Piracetam (analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)
• Treatment Outcome