In detail, it is used alone (monotherapy) in the treatment of partial onset seizures and in addition to other antiepileptic drugs (combination therapy) in the treatment of myoclonic seizures and primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures.
From a chemical point of view, levetiracetam is a pyrrolidone derivative whose structure is not related to that of the other antiepileptic drugs commonly used in therapy.
To carry out its antiepileptic action, levetiracetam must be administered orally (tablets and oral solution), or parenterally (concentrate for solution for infusion). The use of many of the parenterally administered levetiracetam-containing medicines is restricted to hospital settings only; while medicines that can be taken orally can be used directly by patients at their home. The latter, in order to be dispensed, require a repeatable medical prescription (RR), however, since they are classified as class A drugs, their cost can be reimbursed by the National Health System (SSN).
