A 16 Week Study Evaluating Levetiracetam in the Treatment of Post Herpetic Neuralgia (PHN)

A Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled, Parallel-group, 16 Week, Multicenter Trial Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Levetiracetam 500 mg Tablets in Bid Administration (Daily Dose Ranging From 1000 mg to 3000 mg), in Adults (≥ 18 Years of Age) Suffering From Postherpetic Neuralgia

Status

Completed

Phases

Phase 2

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT00160511

Enrollment

170

Registered

2005-09-12

Start date

2004-04-30

Completion date

2005-09-30

Last updated

2013-11-26

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Neuralgia, Postherpetic

Keywords

Postherpetic Neuralgia (PHN), Levetiracetam, Keppra, Nerve Pain

Brief summary

16 week trial assessing the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of levetiracetam compared with placebo in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia.

Interventions

DRUGLevetiracetam

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Masking

DOUBLE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to No maximum

Inclusion criteria

* male or female outpatient greater than or equal to 18 years of age. * suffering presently from neuralgia, which has been present for at least 3 months since healing of acute herpes zoster skin rash. * PHN pain at entry into the study must meet the following criteria: a VAS of at least 40 mm at visit 2 (to assess pain intensity during the past week) and with an average daily score of at least 4 on the PIS during the baseline period as evaluated on a minimum of 4 days. * an estimated creatinine clearance of at least 50 ml/min.

Exclusion criteria

* receiving professional psychological support (such as cognitive behavioral therapy) currently or within 2 weeks prior to visit 1 specifically for coping with PHN. * previous neurolytic or neurosurgical therapy for PHN, at any time in the subject's history or treatment with TENS (transelectroneuro stimulation) currently or within the past 2 weeks. * known co-existent source of pain or painful peripheral neuropathy. * known significant neurological disorder other than the study disease or a condition which can mimic stroke with distal neurological deficit (amyotrophy, radiculopathy, history of TIAs, multiple sclerosis, or any amputations). * conditions known to be associated with immunosuppressive states. * clinically significant major depression defined as a Beck Depression Inventory Score \> 21 at selection including those with a history of Bipolar Disorder.

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Assess efficacy of levetiracetam in the treatment of Post Herpetic Neuralgia by measuring the absolute change in the average weekly Pain Intensity Scale (PIS).	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Assess the efficacy, safety and tolerability of levetiracetam in the treatment of Post Herpetic Neuralgia; Reduction in the mean PIS over the last week of the evaluation period compared to the baseline period.	—

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026