Levetiracetam (Keppra) – Antiseizure Medications

00:01 Let’s move on to one of the newer anti-seizure agents, it’s called Keppra.

00:06 Now the trade name is easier to pronounce than the generic name so I'm not even going to try.

00:11 This is an agent that we think works on a presynaptic calcium channel that affects the way vesicles are released into the synaptic cleft.

00:22 Key: 1. AMPA receptor: A type of glutamate receptor that mediates fast synaptic transmission in the central nervous system.

00:31 2. GABA: Gamma-aminobutyric acid, an inhibitory neurotransmitter that can reduce neuronal excitability.

00:39 3. Glutamate: The most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS).

00:45 4. KCNQ K+ channel: A type of voltage-gated potassium channel that contributes to stabilizing the electrical activity of neurons. 5. SV2A: Synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A, a protein that plays a role in modulating neurotransmitter release. Keppra is a mostly unknown mechanism of action.

01:08 It may inhibit the presynaptic calcium channels but we're not entirely sure.

01:12 We know that it also binds to SV2A, which is a synaptic vesicle glycoprotein so it may also inhibit and may also change the way that the vesicle is being released into the synaptic cleft.

01:28 Side effects of this medication includes sleepiness which is quite frequent.

01:32 Rarer cases of psychosis and suicide increased risk can occur with this medication.

01:38 Rare cases of Stevens-Johnsons syndrome have been reported and also rare cases of anaphylaxis can occur with Keppra - all of these things do need to be monitored for.

01:48 Uses include focal epilepsy, partial complex epilepsy, and generalized epilepsy.

01:56 That’s one of the newest agents.

01:58 I hope this information was useful.

02:01 Good luck on your exams.