Levetiracetam in spinal cord injury pain: a randomized controlled trial
Finnerup NB et al. – Levetiracetam does not relieve neuropathic pain or spasm severity after spinal cord injury. Methods- Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover, multicenter trial of the anticonvulsant levetiracetam
- Baseline 1-wk period followed by two 5-wk treatment periods with levetiracetam increased from 500 mg bid to maximum of 1500 mg bid; 1-wk washout periods
- Primary aim: study of the efficacy in pts with spinal cord injury (SCI) at- and below-level pain
- Secondary aim: study of the effect on spasm severity
- Setting: Outpatients at 2 spinal cord units and a pain center
- Allowance of continued usual pain treatment at constant dose
- Primary outcome measure: change in median daily pain score (0–10 point rating scale) from 1-wk baseline period to last wk of each treatment period
- Secondary outcome measures: pain relief of at- and below-level pain, allodynia, spasms and spasticity
Results- Of 36 pts enrolled, 24 pts completed the trial
- No effect of levetiracetam on primary or secondary outcome measures
- Only 2 pts continued levetiracetam treatment after trial
- At 6-mo follow-up, 1 pt still in levetiracetam treatment
- Levetiracetam generally well tolerated with no serious adverse events
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