ArticleIndian pediatrics2026
Behavioral Adverse Effects During Initial Six Weeks of Levetiracetam Therapy in Children with Epilepsy: A Prospective Cohort Study.
Article in Indian pediatrics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Long-Term Follow-Up of Levetiracetam Monotherapy Versus Add-On Therapy in Pediatric Epilepsy.Children (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Behavioral Adverse Effects of Levetiracetam.Indian pediatrics · 2026Article
- Indigenous Clinical Evidence on Newer Anti-seizure Medications: The Need of the Hour.Indian pediatrics · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveTo assess the behavioral adverse effects associated with the use of levetiracetam in drug-naïve children with epilepsy, either as monotherapy or as part of anti-seizure medications polytherapy.
methodsThis prospective cohort study was conducted in the pediatrics department of a public hospital from October 3, 2024, to July 26, 2025. Typically developing children aged 4-12 years with epilepsy were consecutively enrolled, if they were being planned to be initiated on levetiracetam therapy, either as monotherapy or as an add-on therapy. Behavioral problems were assessed prior to starting levetiracetam using Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and repeated at 14 (+ 3) days and 6 (+ 1) weeks of follow-up.
resultsThe study included 60 children with mean (SD) age of 7.75 (2.48) years. At enrollment, behavioral problems were not observed in any child (scores in the normal range). Proportion of those with behavioral problems in any sub-domain in either of the tools at follow-up was 3.3% at 14 days and 11.7% (95% CI 5.77-22.18%) at 6 weeks. Behavioral problems based on total scores, of either tool, were present in 6.7% (95% CI 2.6-16.0%) at 6-week follow-up. Behavioral adverse effects were found to be statistically associated with use of higher doses of levetiracetam (> 30 mg/kg/day), with dose and total CBCL scores [r (95% CI) = 0.542 (0.33-0.70); P < 0.001] and total SDQ scores [r (95% CI) = 0.515 (0.30-0.68); P < 0.001] showing significant correlation. The discontinuation rate was 1.7% (n = 1).
conclusionThere is a need of close surveillance for neurobehavioral morbidity in children with epilepsy receiving levetiracetam, especially those receiving high doses.
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