Pyridoxine supplementation for levetiracetam-related neuropsychiatric adverse events in pediatric and adolescent epilepsy: a prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial

Background

Levetiracetam commonly causes neuropsychiatric adverse events (NPAEs) in pediatric patients, including irritability and aggression. This study evaluated pyridoxine supplementation for reducing levetiracetam-related NPAEs in children and adolescents with epilepsy.

Methods

We conducted a prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial at Phramongkutklao Hospital, Thailand (January-June 2024). Participants aged 1–18 years with levetiracetam-related NPAEs were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either pyridoxine (10 mg/kg/day, maximum 200 mg) or placebo for 8 weeks. The primary outcome was change in behavioral symptoms using a validated 30-item questionnaire (score range 30–90). Secondary outcomes included treatment adherence, time to behavioral improvement, and adverse events. Sample size (n = 102) was calculated to detect a 20 % difference in behavioral improvement with 80 % power.

Results

102 patients were randomized (pyridoxine n = 51, placebo n = 51). Baseline characteristics—including age, sex, seizure type, and number of concomitant ASMs—were comparable between groups. The mean age was 9.2 vs 8.3 years (p = 0.363), and 52.9 % vs 51.0 % were female in the pyridoxine and placebo groups, respectively. Most participants (56.9 %) were on dual therapy, with a median of two ASMs in both groups (p = 0.94). Both groups showed significant behavioral improvement over 8 weeks: the pyridoxine group from 14.79 ± 6.87 to 11.54 ± 6.22 (p < 0.001); placebo group from 15.65 ± 8.26 to 10.47 ± 8.22 (p < 0.001). No significant between-group difference existed at week 8 (p = 0.468). However, multivariate analysis of behavioral change scores from baseline to week 8 revealed significantly greater improvement in the pyridoxine group (adjusted OR = 2.31, 95 % CI: 1.15–4.63, p = 0.020). No serious adverse events occurred in either group.

Conclusion

While pyridoxine did not significantly reduce behavioral scores compared to placebo at the study endpoint, the greater improvement in change scores over time suggests potential benefit in mitigating levetiracetam-associated NPAEs. Pyridoxine may serve as safe adjunctive therapy for patients who have behavioral side effects while maintaining seizure control. Further investigation in larger multicenter trials with extended follow-up is required before recommending pyridoxine for routine clinical use.