EVALUATION OF TREATMENT OUTCOMES WITH LEVETIRACETAM IN PATIENTS WITH EPILEPSY
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Abstract
Background: Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder that significantly affects patients’ health and quality of life. Levetiracetam is a newer-generation antiepileptic drug that has demonstrated good seizure control efficacy and a favorable safety profile. However, in Vietnam, data evaluating the therapeutic effectiveness of levetiracetam in adult patients with epilepsy remain limited. Objective: To evaluate the treatment outcomes of levetiracetam in hospitalized patients with epilepsy at Can Tho Central General Hospital. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 65 patients aged ≥16 years diagnosed with epilepsy. Seizure control, recurrence, and adverse effects were assessed during the most recent 3-month treatment period. Results: The study was conducted on 65 patients with epilepsy aged 16 years or older. After 3 months of treatment with levetiracetam, 81.5% of patients achieved good seizure control. The seizure recurrence rate was 27.7%, with no recurrence recorded during the first month. Adverse effects occurred in 40.0% of patients, mainly involving psychiatric–behavioral and neurological manifestations; most were mild, transient, and did not require treatment discontinuation. Conclusion: Levetiracetam demonstrated high efficacy in seizure control and good tolerability among the patients with epilepsy included in this study. It is an effective and safe treatment option for patients with epilepsy.
Keywords
Levetiracetam, epilepsy, seizure control, recurrence, adverse effects
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