Overview
The purpose of this study is to assess the incidence of early post-traumatic seizures. The study will also assess the benefit of lacosamide compared to levetiracetam in regards to agitation and behavioral adverse effects in patients with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury requiring seizure prophylaxis.
Description
This is a prospective randomized controlled trial of patients with moderate to severe TBI requiring seizure prophylaxis to prevent early and late posttraumatic seizures. Patients will be identified and randomized as soon as possible, within 24 hours, from injury and started on seizure prophylaxis if they meet the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Patients randomized to the levetiracetam group will receive levetiracetam 1000 mg intravenously or by mouth twice daily for a total of 7 days. Patients randomized to the lacosamide group will receive lacosamide 200 mg intravenously or by mouth twice daily for a total of 7 days.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- 18 years and older
- Diagnosis of moderate to severe traumatic brain injury
- Seizure prophylaxis with one of the two study drugs within 24 hours of initial injury
- Patients admitted into the trauma team service
Exclusion Criteria:
- Patients on anti-seizure or anti-epileptic medication
- History of seizures, witnessed or activity of seizure before prophylaxis medication started
- Received anti-seizure medication before randomized into the study
- Patients with a history of alcohol withdrawal or experiencing alcohol withdrawal that require medication treatment
- Spinal cord injury, history of bradycardia or permanent pacemaker, end stage renal disease
- Transferred form an outside hospital >24 hours from injury and/or given or unconfirmed anti-seizure medication at other hospital
- Death, withdrawal of life support or transfer to hospice within 24 hours of injury
- Special population (pregnant, incarcerated)
- Informed consent not obtained within 72 hours from injury