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Epilepsy

Psychiatric adverse effects of levetiracetam linked to genetic variation in dopamine signalling

Nature Reviews Neurology volume 8, page 532 (2012)Cite this article

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Levetiracetam (LEV) is an effective and generally well-tolerated antiepileptic drug (AED), but has been shown to provoke psychiatric adverse effects such as aggression and irritability in a subset of patients. Clinical observations and behavioural data have provided hints that patients with pre-existing impulsive and aggressive tendencies might be at risk of adverse events on LEV treatment. In a study published in Epilepsia, Christoph Helmstaedter and colleagues sought to understand the genetic basis of these complications, and they pinpointed genetic variants in dopamine-related genes as probable contributory factors.

...efficacy of AED treatment represents only one aspect of drug action...

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ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER

  1. Helmstaedter, C. et al. Genetic variation in dopaminergic activity is associated with the risk for psychiatric side effects of levetiracetam. Epilepsia doi:10.1111/j.1528-1167.2012.03603.x

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  1. Heather Wood
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Wood, H. Psychiatric adverse effects of levetiracetam linked to genetic variation in dopamine signalling. Nat Rev Neurol 8, 532 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2012.184

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