Levetiracetam (LEV), a relatively new antiepileptic drug, is now frequently used for treating partial or
generalized seizures. Among the adverse effects of LEV, rhabdomyolysis is rare. We describe here a case
of LEV-induced rhabdomyolysis in a 26-year-old woman. The patient’s seizures had been controlled
with carbamazepine and phenobarbital for the previous 7 years. However, LEV was initiated at the age
of 26 years because her seizures control deteriorated with seizures occurring monthly. She experienced
lower limb weakness with a high level of creatine kinase 15 days after starting LEV. When LEV was
discontinued, her creatine kinase levels decreased and her symptoms gradually improved. This case
provide another example of rhabdomyolysis during the early phase of LEV treatment.
Rhabdomyolysis