Aseptic meningitis is meningitis with negative bacterial cultures. Overall, viral infections are the most common etiology, however medications can also cause this illness.
Well known causes of aseptic meningitis include: antimicrobials (particularly sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim), NSAIDS, antivirals (valacyclovir), and antiepileptics.
Recently an abstract was published that suggests that patients on levetiracetam have a higher risk of developing aseptic meningitis than those on topiramate and gabapentin. Lamotrigine has also been implicated, but appears to have a lower risk than levetiracetam, topiramate and gabapentin.
References
Teigland C, Chen P, Parente A, Bhattacharjee R. FDA Black Box Warning on Risk of Aseptic Meningitis with Use of Antiepileptic Drug Lamotrigine: Comparative Risk of Alternative Medications. Abstract, American Epilepsy Society. 2013
