Open-label Study of Levetiracetam Intravenous Infusion in Children (4-16 Years Old) With Epilepsy

• Number of Subjects Who Received High-dose Levetiracetam Intravenous (LEV IV) (More Than 40 mg/kg/Day) During the Treatment Period (up to 4 Days) [ Time Frame: Treatment period (up to 4 days) ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Number of Consecutive Levetiracetam Intravenous (LEV IV) Doses Received [ Time Frame: Treatment period (up to 4 days) ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Keppra injection is approved in the US as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial onset seizures in adults with epilepsy. The objective of the current study is to assess the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics, of this formulation in children aged 4 to 16 years.

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and tolerability of levetiracetam intravenous 15-minute infusion administered every 12 hours, either as adjunctive treatment or monotherapy in children (4 to 16 years old) with epilepsy (except status epilepticus), either after switching from the equivalent levetiracetam oral dose administration or as a new antiepileptic treatment.

The evaluation period was to be considered as one complete set of 4 Pharmacokinetic (PK) samples for a maximum of 4 days;

• For children already taking levetiracetam oral tablets or oral solution prior to entering the study, the levetiracetam intravenous (LEV IV) dose will be equivalent (mg-for-mg) to their oral dose. The first intravenous (IV) infusion was to be administered 12 hours after the last oral dose of levetiracetam.

• For children not taking levetiracetam oral tablets or oral solution prior to entering the study:

  • If weight < 50 kg: dose of levetiracetam intravenous (LEV IV) dose will be calculated on the basis of their weight at 20 mg/kg/day (i.e. 10 mg/kg twice daily).
  • If weight ≥ 50 kg: dose of levetiracetam intravenous (LEV IV) will be 1000 mg/day (i.e. 500 mg twice daily).

However, when necessary for the safety of the subject or when the investigator deemed it appropriate the levetiracetam intravenous (LEV IV) dose could be modified after one day.

Subjects were hospitalized for the duration of the levetiracetam IV treatment.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male or female between 4 and 16 years of age, inclusive
• The subject suffers from epilepsy (except status epilepticus)
• The subject is requiring levetiracetam IV treatment in place of oral therapy for a short period of time

Exclusion Criteria:

• The subject has difficult venous accessibility
• History of status epilepticus during the 3 months prior to visit 1.
• The subject is taking felbamate at visit 1 or has been taking it in the past.