Catatonia induced by levetiracetam

• DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2005.04.016
• Publication Date: 2005-10-25T12:44:45Z
• Authors: Marie-Josée Choui...; Dang-Khoa Nguyen; Jean-François Clé...; Marie-Andrée Bruneau
• Keywords: Adult; Paranoid Disorders; Levetiracetam; Catatonia; Risperidone; Piracetam; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Humans; Anticonvulsants; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Epilepsies, Partial; Antipsychotic Agents

Levetiracetam (Keppra) is a novel antiepileptic drug approved as adjunctive treatment for adults with partial onset seizures. Although the drug is generally well tolerated, behavioral side effects have been reported in variable frequency. Most behavioral problems are mild in nature (agitation, hostility, anxiety, emotional lability, apathy, depression) and quickly resolve with discontinuation of medication. However, serious psychiatric adverse events may also occur with rare cases of psychosis and suicidal behavior. We report here the case of a 43-year-old woman who developed symptoms compatible with catatonia after being exposed to levetiracetam for the treatment of epilepsy. To our knowledge, it is the first reported case of catatonia induced by levetiracetam. We review the difficulties that may be encountered in the differential diagnosis of medical catatonia.