Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Non-restraining EEG Radiotelemetry: Epidural and Deep Intracerebral Stereotaxic EEG Electrode Placement
Published on: June 25, 2016
[The use of intravenous levetiracetam in a general hospital]
J C Giner-Bernabeu1, L Hernández-Rubio, A P Sempere
1Servicio de Neurología, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, España.
Introduction And Aims:
Although antiepileptic drugs are usually administered orally, sometimes they must be given intravenously. Levetiracetam is the only one of the new antiepileptic drugs that can be administered intravenously. In this study we report on the use of intravenous levetiracetam in a general hospital, while also evaluating its effectiveness and safety.
Patients And Methods:
A retrospective analysis was conducted of the medical records of all hospital admissions that were treated with intravenous levetiracetam between July 2007 and May 2008.
Results:
A total of 53 patients were treated with intravenous levetiracetam. Approximately half the patients (47%) had been admitted to neurology, followed by neurosurgery (21%) and oncology (9%). The mean age was 52.2 years (range: 9-87 years) and 40% were females. Seizures were symptomatic in 81% of cases and the most common aetiologies were strokes (40%) and brain tumours (33%). The most frequent presenting symptoms were repeated epileptic seizures (47.2%) and epileptic status (26.4%). Overall, control of seizures was achieved in 87% of patients. No severe side-effects that could be attributed to levetiracetam therapy were detected.
Conclusions:
Intravenous levetiracetam seems to be an effective, safe antiepileptic drug in hospitalised patients, and especially so in those who present an associated comorbidity and/or who are on multiple drug therapy.
More Related Videos
08:44Continuous IV Infusion is the Choice Treatment Route for Arginine-vasopressin Receptor Blocker Conivaptan in Mice to Study Stroke-evoked Brain Edema
Published on: September 1, 2016
05:33A Model for Epilepsy of Infectious Etiology using Theiler's Murine Encephalomyelitis Virus
Published on: June 23, 2022
Related Concept Videos
Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein
SV2A is a transmembrane glycoprotein located predominantly in the brain, modulating the release of neurotransmitters for neuronal communication. Both levetiracetam and brivaracetam exhibit a high affinity for...
Drug Delivery: Parenteral Route
There are three primary parenteral routes: intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), and subcutaneous (SC). The IV route introduces the drug directly into the bloodstream, ensuring immediate action. The IM route...
Drug Accumulation During Multiple Dosing: Intermittent IV Infusions
Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Treatment Strategies
Antiepileptic Drugs: Potassium Channel Activators
Ezogabine has gained approval as an adjunctive treatment...
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Intravenous Regional Anesthesia
One of the advantages of...