Table 1.
Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with epilepsy who underwent an overnight switch.
| Characteristics | Patients (N = 41) |
|---|---|
| Age (years), mean (SD) | 40.9 (17.8) |
| Gender, n (%) | |
| Male | 21 (51.2) |
| Female | 20 (48.8) |
| Time since first seizure (years), mean (SD) | 17.0 (12.4) |
| Etiology of the epilepsy, n (%) | |
| Structural | 25 (61.0) |
| Vascular | 10 (24.4) |
| Neurodevelopmental disorders | 3 (7.3) |
| Tumors | 8 (19.5) |
| Infectious | 2 (4.9) |
| Tuberous sclerosis complex | 1 (2.4) |
| Mesial temporal sclerosis | 1 (2.4) |
| Unknown | 6 (14.6) |
| Generalized genetic | 4 (9.8) |
| Unclassified | 4 (9.8) |
| Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy | 2 (4.9) |
| Previous antiseizure medication used, mean (number, SD) | 3.3 (2.3) |
| Current treatment, n (%) | |
| levetiracetam monotherapy | 15 (36.6) |
| levetiracetam + 1 ASM | 12 (29.3) |
| levetiracetam + 2 ASMs | 11 (26.8) |
| levetiracetam + 3 ASMs | 1 (2.4) |
| levetiracetam + 4 ASMs | 2 (4.9) |
| Reason for switch, n (%) | |
| Poor seizure control | 22 (53.6) |
| Side effects | 27 (65.9) |
| Irritability/aggressiveness | 15 (36.6) |
| Depression | 10 (24.4) |
| Drowsiness | 5 (12.2) |
| Dizziness | 1 (2.4) |
| Both | 8 (19.5) |
| Levetiracetam dose at the time of the switch (mg/day), mean (SD) | 1761.0 (884.6) |
| Starting dose of brivaracetam (mg/day), mean (SD) | 142.0 (47.0) |
ASM = antiseizure medication.