Second Generation Novel Antiepileptic-Levetiracetam

Dr. Vaishali Thakare, Dr. Lily Dubey

Abstract: Epilepsy is a very common neurological disorder with high prevalence and incidence. Administration of antiepileptic drugs is the first treatment of epilepsy. Conventional/ first generation antiepileptic drugs like phenytoin, carbamazepine and sodium valproate are widely used but they have increased risk of adverse reactions and drug interactions. Over the last two decades, there has been a rapid expansion in the number and types of available antiepileptic drugs. Levetiracetam is one of the second generation antiepileptic drugs with novel mechanism of action. It has gained the popularity amongst clinicians because of favourable pharmacokinetic profile. This article focuses various aspects of Levetiracetam.

Keywords: AEDs- antiepileptic drug, SV2A- synaptic vesicular protein, TBI traumatic brain injury