If you or a loved one takes levetiracetam for epilepsy, you may worry about mood or behavior changes. A new review looked at how often this drug is linked to psychobehavioral side effects.
The review found that irritability was reported in about 10% of patients, while anger and aggressiveness each appeared in roughly 2.5%. Discontinuation rates due to aggression and irritability ranged from 2.4% to 3.4%. The review also noted rare reports of psychosis and suicidality.
This looked at people with generalized and focal epilepsy taking levetiracetam, but the review did not report how many people were included or from what settings. The findings show an association, not proof the drug causes these effects, and risk factors may play a role.
Because the review did not include a control group or detailed study methods, we can’t compare these rates to other epilepsy drugs. Still, it highlights the importance of watching for mood or behavior changes and talking with a clinician if they appear.