Abstract

A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON EFFICACY OF LEVETIRACETAM WITH OTHER ANTIEPILEPTIC DRUGS BY ASSESSING BEHAVIOURAL AND COGNITIVE CHANGES USING DSM-V AND MMSE SCALES

K. Sravanthi*, B.V.L. Sai Spoorthy, S. K. Nagul Shareef, S. Bhavya Sai, J. N. Suresh Kumar

Abstract

Background: Epilepsy is the second common, frequently encountered neurological condition that imposes heavy burden on individual, families, and on healthcare systems. In addition to seizure-control, many of the treatment failures are due to cognition-behavioural changes which were reported as an adverse effect. Aim: To compare the efficacy of Levetiracetam with other antiepileptic drugs by assessing behavioural and cognitive changes using various scales. Method: This is a Prospective Case-Control study conducted in Guntur City Hospitals. A total of 400 sample were included, out of which 200 epileptic patients who were on antiepileptic’s and 200 are Healthy-controls. Both cognitive & behavioural changes were compared among Healthy-controls and Epileptic patients using Mini-mental scale examination and Diagnostic statistical manual of mental disorders scales, and also compared safety and efficacy of Levetiracetam with other antiepileptics. Results: In our study, knowledge about Medications and Life style modifications was provided using Counselling Aids. Among 200 Epileptic patients, 100 subjects were on Levetiracetam. Out of which cognitive changes (14%), behavioural changes(24%), both cognitive-behavioural changes(8%), whereas no changes in 54% patients. Remaining 100 Subjects were on other AED’S. Among them cognitive changes (9%), behavioural changes (14%) and both changes (3%) were observed; no changes observed in 74% patients. Conclusion: The Patients with epilepsy become seizure-free with the first prescribed AED in daily-clinical practice. In addition to seizure-control, the overall effectiveness is also determined by adverse-events, which are responsible for approximately 1/3rd of treatment failures. The study concludes that Cognitive-behavioural sideeffects occur more frequently in patients prescribed with Levetiracetam than other antiepileptics.

Keywords: Epilepsy, Cognition, Behaviour, Levetiracetam.