Pyridoxine May Help Reduce Behavioral Issues in Kids on Levetiracetam

Source: Epilepsy & behavior : E&B

Summary

This study looked at how pyridoxine, also known as vitamin B6, might help reduce neuropsychiatric side effects caused by the epilepsy medication levetiracetam in children and adolescents. The research involved 102 participants aged 1 to 18 years who were experiencing issues like irritability and aggression due to levetiracetam. They were divided into two groups: one received pyridoxine, while the other received a placebo (a non-active treatment) for eight weeks.

The results showed that both groups experienced improvements in their behavioral symptoms over the study period. However, when comparing the two groups directly, there was no significant difference in the overall improvement. Still, a deeper analysis indicated that those taking pyridoxine had a greater improvement in their symptoms over time compared to the placebo group. Importantly, no serious side effects were reported in either group during the study.

These findings are important because they suggest that pyridoxine might help some children and adolescents who experience behavioral side effects from levetiracetam, making it a potentially safe addition to their treatment. However, since the study did not find a clear difference between the two groups at the end, more research with larger groups and longer follow-up is needed before pyridoxine can be recommended as a standard treatment for these side effects.

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