MONDAY, July 22, 2002 (HealthDayNews) --
The antiepileptic drug Keppra (levetiracetam) does not negatively interact with oral contraceptives containing ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel, according to a study published in the July issue of Epilepsia.
The study's authors conclude that Keppra, manufactured by UCB Pharma, Inc., is well-suited for women of childbearing age with epilepsy.
More than a million women in the United States live with seizure disorders, including epilepsy. Contraceptive failure and unplanned pregnancies have been well-documented in women who must regularly take drugs to control their seizures, medical experts say.
"Drug interactions between antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and oral contraceptives are a critical concern for women with epilepsy," said Dr. Isabelle Ragueneau-Majlessi, a research associate at the University of Washington School of Pharmacy in Seattle, Wash., and a co-author of the study. "To date, few AEDs have been shown not to impede the effect of oral contraceptives."
Keppra was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in November 1999 for treatment of partial onset seizures in adults with epilepsy.
In the study, 18 healthy female patients received an oral contraceptive containing ethinyl estradiol, 0.03 mg, and levonorgestrel, 0.15 mg, for the first 21 days of two consecutive menstrual cycles. Then patients were randomly given either Keppra or a placebo.
Blood levels of the contraceptive ingredients were then measured, and levels did not statistically differ between those given Keppra or a placebo,
the study's authors say in a prepared statement.
More information
For details on Keppra, visit the Food and Drug Administration.
