Levetiracetam (LEV) is an antiseizure medication (ASM) used as a second line after benzodiazepines for status epilepticus treatment. Current literature lacks direct head-to-head comparisons between different LEV loading dose strategies, leading to uncertainty about superior dosing methods and thus clinical practice variations.

A retrospective cohort study was designed to compare efficacy and safety of low (<30 mg/kg) versus high (≥30 mg/kg) weight-based LEV loading doses in adults with benzodiazepine-refractory status epilepticus (BRSE). The primary outcome of this study was termination of BRSE. No requirement for additional ASM after LEV was a surrogate for BRSE termination. Secondary endpoints included endotracheal intubation, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, 30-day all-cause mortality and adverse drug reactions. Statistical analysis included discrete and inferential statistics, including logistic regression and win-ratio analysis, to control for potential confounding variables.

Of the 106 patients included in this study, 54 (51%) did not require additional ASM after LEV, thereby achieving seizure termination. There was a higher proportion of patients with seizure termination in the higher weight-based dosing group as compared to the lower weight-based group (66% vs 40%, respectively; aOR 3.07; 95% CI: 1.36–7.21). There were lower rates for endotracheal intubation, ICU admission and all-cause mortality in the higher dosing group. Adverse events were comparable between the both groups.

LEV’s high weight-based loading dose strategy (≥30 mg/kg) is more effective in the termination of BRSE as compared to the lower weight-based loading dose strategy (<30 mg/kg).

Medication-induced dystonia (MID) is a movement disorder (MD), characterized by involuntary sustained or intermittent muscle contractions, causing abnormal, often repetitive, movements, postures, or both. Although MID is commonly associated with the use of antipsychotics, it also occurs with many other medications widely used in clinical practice.

A systematic literature search (from inception to November 2023), using the PubMed and Embase databases, was conducted without language restriction for articles reporting on MID in people without pre-existing MDs, and this for all potentially relevant non-antipsychotic medications. A narrative synthesis of the available evidence was undertaken.

MID is common (1 to 10%) with certain antiemetics. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and the antiepileptics valproate, carbamazepine, and lamotrigine are rarely (0.01 to 0.1%) or very rarely (<0.01%) associated with MID. All other medications are very rarely (<0.01%) associated with MID or have a risk that cannot be precisely estimated. The actual rate of dystonic reactions with most non-antipsychotic agents remains unknown, owing to misdiagnosis and underreporting in the scientific literature. In general, MID seems to occur more often in children and adolescents, even with a single low dose, and with polymedication. In most cases, MID is acute in onset (occurring within hours to days) and involves the head and neck.

Although MID is most common with dopamine receptor-blocking antiemetics, many other medications may also produce dystonic reactions, particularly in children and adolescents. Although such incidents remain rare, there are indications that MID is underreported for many classes of medications.

Levetirazetam is an antiepileptic drug with psychiatric adverse reactions. It includes psychosis, paranoia or hallucinations. The frequency is less than 1%.

To describe a case of Psychosis produced by Levetirazetam

Retrospective review of clinical records and complementary test, including psychiatry, electrophysiology and neurology. Diagnosis schales such as Salamanca Questionnaire were used as suport.

A 42-year-old woman diagnosed with tuberous sclerosis and undergoing treatment with levetirazetam acudes to the emergency department for behavioral disorders. She has presented an episode of aggression against a relative threatening him with a kitchen knife. The family reports that since the change in antiepilepticus 1 month ago, the patient has presented strange behaviors. Te Patient is conscious, uncooperative. Barely Approachable. Suspicious of her surroundings, with psychomotor restlessness, self-reference ideas and sparse speech. Auditory hallucinations seem to be present, as well as depressed and irritable mood. Psychic and somatic anxiety is found.

Levetirazetam is discontinued, being replaced by valproic acid. Risperidone is started at a 3 mg dose. Treatment is well tolerated, and clinical stability is achived. Cluster A personality traits are found. Complementary test Blood and Urine simples, Imaging tests (CT and MRI), electroencephalogram and Electrocardiogram show no alterations

Levetirazetam can cause psychiatric adverse effects. it is important to make a proper diagnosis before a first psychotic outbreak in later life. Drugs that can produce psychiatric side effects should be identified and patients should be inform.

No significant relationships.