Mechanism of Action of Levetiracetam

Clinical Implications

• The American Academy of Neurology suggests that levetiracetam has broad-spectrum efficacy across partial-onset seizures, myoclonic seizures, and generalized tonic-clonic seizures, due to its unique SV2A mechanism 1
• The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke indicates that levetiracetam has minimal impact on arousal function and does not cause cognitive impairment, unlike GABA-ergic drugs, with studies showing no statistically significant worsening of arousal or sensory-perceptual functions at doses of 500-2000 mg/day 1, 2
• The American Epilepsy Society notes that while levetiracetam may affect sensory-perceptual functions theoretically, clinical studies have not consistently demonstrated this effect, with some evidence of cognitive improvement 1, 3