RESEARCH - Impact of levetiracetam on mood and cognition during prednisone therapy

[Guest guest]

Eur Psychiatry. 2007 Oct;22(7):448-52. Epub 2007 Sep 4

Impact of levetiracetam on mood and cognition during prednisone therapy.

Brown ES, Frol AB, Khan DA, Larkin GL, Bret ME.

The Psychoneuroendocrine Research Program of the Department of

Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323

Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390-8849, USA.

PURPOSE: Corticosteroid excess is associated with impairment in

declarative memory and hippocampal changes. In animals, phenytoin

blocks the effects of stress on memory and hippocampal histology.

Levetiracetam also shows neuroprotective properties in some animal

models. This report examines whether levetiracetam prevents mood or

cognitive changes secondary to prescription corticosteroids. MATERIALS

AND METHODS: Thirty outpatients given systemic corticosteroid therapy

for asthma were randomized to either levetiracetam (1500 mg/day) or

placebo given concurrently with the corticosteroids. Mood was assessed

with the Hamilton rating scale for depression (HRSD), Young mania

rating scale (YMRS) and activation (ACT) subscale of the internal

state scale, declarative memory with the Rey auditory verbal learning

test (RAVLT), and attention and executive functioning with the Stroop

color and word test at baseline and after approximately 7 days of

corticosteroid plus levetiracetam or placebo therapy. RESULTS:

Levetiracetam and placebo groups showed significant improvement from

baseline to exit on RAVLT total words recalled with a non-significant

change on other outcomes. No significant between-group differences

were found. Initial prednisone dose showed a significant correlation

with change in some cognitive domains.

CONCLUSIONS: Levetiracetam was well tolerated when combined with

prednisone. Significant between-group differences in mood and

cognition were not found.

PMID: 17766093

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17766093

--

Not an MD