An 11-year review of levetiracetam ingestions in children less than 6 years of age

Abstract

Pediatric levetiracetam exposures were associated with few transient clinical effects. Poison Control Centers may wish to consider acuity of ingestion when developing send-in protocols.

Correlation of elevated lamotrigine and levetiracetam serum/plasma levels with toxicity: A long-term retrospective review at an academic medical center

“…Chart review for symptomatology focused on clinical signs and symptoms documented in the patient medical record that may have been associated with drug toxicity. This is a similar approach to other retrospective investigations of lamotrigine and levetiracetam toxicity [ 10 , 14 , 35 ]. Clinical signs and symptoms were considered as possibly representative of drug toxicity if they were distinct from baseline level of function (or at least a worsening of previous function) and causally connected to drug exposure.…”

Antiepileptic drugs: Role in paediatric poisoning

“…Levetiracetam (LEV) is generally considered a well‐tolerated drug that does not require routine laboratory monitoring. Maximum recommended doses are 42 mg/kg in infants younger than 6 months, 50 mg/kg in children aged 6 months to 4 years and 60 mg/kg in those older than 4 years old . T max is 1 h, therapeutic range is 12–46 mg/L, and T ½ is 6–8 h …”

“…In a large paediatric sample, most patients were asymptomatic. Symptomatic patients experienced drowsiness, lethargy, vertigo and, less commonly, ataxia, agitation, irritability, seizures, vomiting and tachycardia …”

“…Maximum recommended doses are 42 mg/kg in infants younger than 6 months, 50 mg/kg in children aged 6 months to 4 years and 60 mg/kg in those older than 4 years old. 25 T max is 1 h, therapeutic range is 12-46 mg/L, and T½ is 6-8 h. 17 Even in cases of intoxication, LEV has been observed to be a relatively safe drug. 26 In a large paediatric sample, most patients were asymptomatic.…”

“…Symptomatic patients experienced drowsiness, lethargy, vertigo and, less commonly, ataxia, agitation, irritability, seizures, vomiting and tachycardia. 25,27 Phenytoin Phenytoin (PHE) is prescribed at a dose of 5-10 mg/kg/day. It has non-linear pharmacokinetics, and its metabolism shows wide inter-individual variability.…”