The efficacy and tolerability of Levetiracetam as an add-on therapy in patients with startle epilepsy

PURPOSE To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of Levetiracetam as an add-on therapy in patients with startle epilepsy (StEp). METHODS Ten (7 males and 3 females) were enrolled in the study. LEV was started at 500mg bid, escalating over 1-2 weeks to maximal doses of 3000mg daily, based on seizure control and tolerance for 13-28 months. RESULTS The onset of startle seizures in patients with StEp varied from birth to 11 years. Six in 10 patients gave good responses to the treatment. There were adverse effects in three patients. CONCLUSION Many AEDs have been used by medically intractable patients with StEp for many years but the results were almost discouraging. It was observed that 60% of the patients gave good response to LEV. Advanced studies are required to indicate the efficiency of LEV which proved to be effective on animals with audiogenic seizures on reflex epilepsies.