The present invention relates to an oral controlled release pharmaceutical composition in the form of a unit dosage form comprising: (a) a highly soluble high dose active ingredient consisting essentially of therapeutically effective amount of levetiracetam or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof, and (b) a rate controlling means comprising a rate-controlling agent and/or a coating selected from (i) a active ingredient permeable coating surrounding the unit dosage form, and (ii) an active ingredient impermeable coating covering one or more surfaces but not all the surfaces of the unit dosage form, wherein the composition is in the form of a compact tablet and the levetiracetam or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof is present in an amount ranging from about 55% to about 90% by weight of the tablet.
