Head injury is the cause of approximately 5% of all epilepsy in the US. Past attempts at
preventing epilepsy by treatment with older antiepileptic drugs have been unsuccessful.
Levetiracetam is a novel AED with potent antiepileptogenic properties in animal models of
epilepsy. It has a favorable side effect and pharmacokinetic profile. It is therefore a
strong candidate for a clinical trial of epilepsy prevention following traumatic brain injury
(TBI). However, there has been no experience in administering levetiracetam rapidly to
individuals with acute TBI. The investigators propose to initiate the evaluation of
levetiracetam in prevention of post-traumatic epilepsy by determining the safety,
tolerability, pharmacokinetics and feasibility of acute and chronic administration of
levetiracetam to individuals with head injury with a high risk for developing post-traumatic
epilepsy. Further, the investigators will follow subjects for 2 years after injury in order
to obtain pilot data about effect of levetiracetam on PTE. This pilot study is the first step
in evaluation of levetiracetam in prevention of post-traumatic epilepsy.