Psychiatry and Clinical Psychopharmacology

Psychopharmacology A case of levetiracetam induced psychosis presented with prominent disorganized behavior

Psychiatry and Clinical Psychopharmacology 2013; 23: Supplement S270-S270
Read: 615 Published: 17 March 2021

Levetiracetam is an antiepileptic drug approved as adjunctive treatment for adults with partial onset seizures. Although the drug is generally well-tolerated, serious psychiatric adverse events may also occur with rare cases of psychosis. Here we report a 25 years-old female, who developed psychosis after the administration of levetiracetam. A 25 year-old female was hospitalized because of harming family members, ideas of persecution, severely disorganized behavior. These symptoms have occurred in the last 8 months. The patient started having partial seizures at the age of five. She was already on sodium valproate, and levetiracetam was given as add on therapy 8 months ago and after that she almost became seizure free. She had always irritability but in the last 8-months, she was hospitalized 4 times because of frequent runaways from home, ideas of persecution, harming family members and odd behaviors like eating raw chicken. Each time she was discharged with atypical antipsychotics providing partial response. In her last admission, the careful review of her medical records revealed that psychosis and disorganized behavior had become evident after the addition of levetiracetam. Levatiracetam was discontinued in 10 days. The psychotic behavior resolved completely soon after. Behavioral side effects after the administration of levetiracetam, have been observed frequently in patients with preexisting psychiatric disturbances. It is possible that preexisting behavioral abnormalities might have played a significant role in the development of psychosis in this patient. It’s a reassuring fact that the discontinuation of levetiracetam produced a rapid return to normal behaviour in different studies. However, it may be reasonable to avoid using levetiracetam in patients with pre-existing psychotic disorders.

EISSN 2475-0581