Pfizer Levetiracetam Adverse Reactions

Summary of the safety profile: The most frequently reported adverse reactions were nasopharyngitis, somnolence, headache, fatigue and dizziness. The adverse reaction profile presented as follows is based on the analysis of pooled placebo-controlled clinical trials with all indications studied, with a total of 3,416 patients treated with Levetiracetam. These data are supplemented with the use of Levetiracetam in corresponding open-label extension studies, as well as post-marketing experience. The safety profile of Levetiracetam is generally similar across age groups (adult and pediatric patients) and across the approved epilepsy indications. Since there was limited exposure for Levetiracetam intravenous use and since oral and intravenous formulations are bioequivalent, the safety information of Levetiracetam intravenous will rely on Levetiracetam oral use.
Tabulated list of adverse reactions: Adverse reactions reported in clinical studies (adults, adolescents, children and infants >1 month) and from post-marketing experience are listed in the following table per System Organ Class and per frequency. Adverse reactions are presented in the order of decreasing seriousness and their frequency is defined as follows: very common (≥1/10); common (≥1/100 to <1/10); uncommon (≥1/1,000 to <1/100); rare (≥1/10,000 to <1/1,000) and very rare (<1/10,000). (See Table 4.)

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Description of selected adverse reactions: The risk of anorexia is higher when Levetiracetam is co-administered with topiramate.
In several cases of alopecia, recovery was observed when Levetiracetam was discontinued.
Bone marrow suppression was identified in some of the cases of pancytopenia.
Cases of encephalopathy generally occurred at the beginning of the treatment (few days to a few months) and were reversible after treatment discontinuation.
Pediatric population: In patients aged 1 month to less than 4 years, a total of 190 patients have been treated with Levetiracetam in placebo-controlled and open label extension studies. Sixty of these patients were treated with Levetiracetam in placebo-controlled studies. In patients aged 4-16 years, a total of 645 patients have been treated with Levetiracetam in placebo-controlled and open label extension studies. 233 of these patients were treated with Levetiracetam in placebo-controlled studies. In both these pediatric age ranges, these data are supplemented with the post-marketing experience of the use of Levetiracetam.
In addition, 101 infants aged less than 12 months have been exposed in a post authorization safety study. No new safety concerns for levetiracetam were identified for infants less than 12 months of age with epilepsy.
The adverse reaction profile of Levetiracetam is generally similar across age groups and across the approved epilepsy indications. Safety results in pediatric patients in placebo-controlled clinical studies were consistent with the safety profile of Levetiracetam in adults except for behavioral and psychiatric adverse reactions which were more common in children than in adults. In children and adolescents aged 4 to 16 years, vomiting (very common, 11.2%), agitation (common, 3.4%), mood swings (common, 2.1%), affect lability (common, 1.7%), aggression (common, 8.2%), abnormal behavior (common, 5.6%), and lethargy (common, 3.9%) were reported more frequently than in other age ranges or in the overall safety profile. In infants and children aged 1 month to less than 4 years, irritability (very common, 11.7%) and coordination abnormal (common, 3.3%) were reported more frequently than in other age groups or in the overall safety profile.
A double-blind, placebo-controlled pediatric safety study with a non-inferiority design has assessed the cognitive and neuropsychological effects of Levetiracetam in children 4 to 16 years of age with partial onset seizures. It was concluded that Levetiracetam was not different (non-inferior) from placebo with regard to the change from baseline of the Leiter-R Attention and Memory, Memory Screen Composite score in the per- protocol population. Results related to behavioral and emotional functioning indicated a worsening in Levetiracetam treated patients on aggressive behavior as measured in a standardized and systematic way using a validated instrument (CBCL - Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist). However, subjects, who took Levetiracetam in the long-term open label follow-up study, did not experience a worsening, on average, in their behavioral and emotional functioning; in particular measures of aggressive behavior were not worse than baseline.