Levetiracetam--a new drug for epilepsy

Levetiracetam (Keppra--UCB Pharma) is a new anti-epileptic drug, marketed in the UK since 2000. It is licensed for use as adjunctive treatment for partial seizures, with or without secondary generalisation, in people aged over 16 years. The company claims that levetiracetam is "highly effective", with a "therapeutic starting dose", "excellent tolerability", and "no known drug/drug interactions". Here, we discuss the place of levetiracetam in the treatment of patienTs with epilepsy.