LONG TERM FOLLOW-UP USE OF LEVETIRACETAM TO TREAT TICS IN CHILDREN

Objectives: Seventy patients have been treated with levetiracetam and have been followed-up for four years to evaluate the effects of levetiracetam on motor and vocal tics, behavior, and school performance in children and adolescents with tics and Tourette syndrome.

Methods: Seventy patients, age=18 years, with tics and Tourette syndrome were enrolled in this prospective, open-label study. The initial starting dose of levetiracetam was 250mg/d. The dosage was titrated over 3 weeks to 1,000 to 2,000mg/d. Clinical outcomes were assessed with the Clinical Global Impression Scale, Yale Global Tic Severity Scale, and Revised Conners' Parent Rating Scale. Behavior and school performance were also recorded. Patients have been followed-up every three months over four years.

Results: All 70 patients showed improvements based on all of the scales used and 49 patients improved with regard to behavior and school performance, and still using levetiracetam as the only medication for their condition. Levetiracetam was generally well tolerated. Three patients discontinued because of exaggeration of preexisting behavioral problems. Two patients dropped their follow-up because they moved out of the stat.

Conclusion: Levetiracetam may be useful in treating tics in children and adolescents. Given its established safety profile, levetiracetam is a candidate for additional evaluation.