After it has melted, swallow. Swallow right away after it has dissolved. Then add a small volume of liquid to cup again, swirl gently, and swallow the liquid. Measure the oral liquid with a marked measuring spoon, dropper, oral syringe, or medicine cup. The average household teaspoon may not hold the right amount of liquid. If you have any questions about this, ask your doctor or pharmacist. This medicine can be used with other seizure medicines.
Keep using all of your seizure medicines unless your doctor tells you otherwise. Take only the form of this medicine that your doctor prescribed. If you refill your prescription and your pills look different, do not take the medicine and tell your doctor or pharmacist right away. The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine.
If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine. If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule.
Do not double doses. Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing. It is very important that your doctor check your or your child's progress at regular visits, especially for the first few months you or your child are using this medicine. This is to see if the medicine is working properly and to allow for a change in the dose.
Blood tests may be needed to check for any unwanted effects. It is important to tell your doctor if you become pregnant while using this medicine. Your doctor may want you to join a pregnancy registry for patients taking a seizure medicine. This would not be expected to cause problems in a baby, especially those over 2 months old.
Levetiracetam could affect a woman's supply of breast milk. Contraception: Levetiracetam does not interfere with hormonal birth control. Levetiracetam is commonly prescribed for people over When people are older than 65 or 70, their kidneys usually don't work as well as before. The kidneys are responsible for removing levetiracetam from the body, so it stays in the body longer if the kidneys aren't working normally.
The best amount is any seizure medicine is the amount that control seizures without causing bothersome side effects. This depends on many factors, which are different for every individual. In the United States, companies that manufacture medicines are required to publish certain kinds of information about each product.
You can also read these documents also called "prescribing information" online. The U. The mission of the Epilepsy Foundation is to lead the fight to overcome the challenges of living with epilepsy and to accelerate therapies to stop seizures, find cures, and save lives. Skip to main content. Select a Medication Basic Advanced. Levetiracetam is approved for use: As add-on therapy with other seizure medicines for children 1 month of age and older and adults with focal partial seizures.
As add-on therapy for children 12 years and older and adults for treatment of myoclonic seizures from juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. As add-on therapy for children 6 years and older and adults with generalized onset tonic-clonic seizures from idiopathic primary generalized epilepsy.
Keppra Tablet. Liquid Solution. Liquid Injection. Used to treat Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy. Dosing Levetiracetam is an intermediate release form. For dosing in adults and teens 16 years and older : Levetiracetam is usually started at or mg twice a day. The dose can be increased by mg twice a day every 2 weeks. Sometimes the drug is increased more slowly, depending on how a person tolerates it. The recommended dose is mg twice a day for a total of 3, mg daily. The recommended dose each day for infants and children is based on weight and age : Infants from less than 1 to 6 months old: 21 mg per kg twice a day Children 6 months to less than 4 years old: 25 mg per kg twice a day Children 4 to less than 16 years old: 30 mg per kg twice a day.
See the package insert for details about the amount of levetiracetam to start in a child of different ages and how to increase it. People with liver problems may be started on a lower dose of levetiracetam and increased more slowly. Follow your prescribing provider's instructions for how much to take and when to make changes.
How to take and store Levetiracetam? How to take: Take levetiracetam exactly as your health care provider prescribes it. Check the number of tablets and the strength of pills you get from the pharmacy. If your provider changes the dose, the strength of pills may be different.
Levetiracetam is usually taken twice a day, about 12 hours apart. Swallow the tablets whole. They may have a bitter taste when the pill is crushed. People who have trouble swallowing the pills whole can break the tablets in half, mix the tablet with food, or use the liquid form. It can be taken with or without food, but it's best to take it the same way every day. For the liquid form, always check the bottle for the amount to take and the strength.
Levetiracetam liquid comes as mg in every ml. Shake the bottle well before measuring a dose. Always use an accurate measuring spoon or syringe to make sure the amount is correct. Do not use a regular teaspoon. Take only the amount that your provider tells you to take.
If you take an extra dose, call your provider for advice. If you take a larger number of pills or overdose, call the poison control center or call your hospital emergency room. Spritam is for children at least 4 years old who weigh at least 44 pounds 20 kilograms.
Roweepra and Keppra may be used in children as young as 1 month old. Epilepsy Seizures. You should not use levetiracetam if you are allergic to it. Tell your doctor if you have ever had: kidney disease or if you are on dialysis ; depression or other mood problems; mental illness or psychosis; or suicidal thoughts or actions. Ask a doctor if it is safe to breastfeed while using this medicine. Side Effects. Side Effects What are the side effects of Keppra Levetiracetam?
Call your doctor at once if you have: unusual changes in mood or behavior unusual risk-taking behavior, being irritable or talkative ; confusion, hallucinations, extreme drowsiness, feeling very weak or tired; loss of balance or coordination, problems with walking or movement; a skin rash, no matter how mild; easy bruising, unusual bleeding; or fever, chills, weakness, or other signs of infection.
Common side effects may include: dizziness, drowsiness, tiredness, weakness; feeling aggressive or irritable; loss of appetite; stuffy nose; or infection. Based on FDA pregnancy categories. Interactions What drugs and food should I avoid while taking Keppra Levetiracetam?
Levetiracetam oral is taken by mouth at the same time each day, with or without food. Swallow the extended-release tablet whole and do not crush, chew, or break it. Wear a medical alert tag or carry an ID card to let others know you have seizures.
Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. What should I do if I missed a dose of Keppra Levetiracetam? Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely. It's not always important to stay on the same brand, but ask your doctor. If your epilepsy has been hard to control in the past and the brand of levetiracetam you're now taking is working well for you, your doctor may recommend you stay on the same one.
Talk to your doctor if you have been asked to switch to a different brand of levetiracetam and are worried about that. If you're taking levetiracetam for epilepsy, stopping it suddenly can cause seizures. Coming off levetiracetam should be done very slowly and might take a few months. If you get a serious side effect, such as a severe skin condition, your doctor may tell you to stop taking levetiracetam straight away, even if you have epilepsy.
Levetiracetam can sometimes cause changes in your mood or behaviour. You may feel angry, agitated or depressed. This side effect does not affect everyone, but it's important to tell your doctor if you have any changes in your mood, feel depressed or have thoughts of harming yourself. Some people take vitamin B6 also known as pyridoxine alongside levetiracetam to reduce the chances of mood changes.
A few studies have reported that vitamin B6 might be helpful, but we do not have enough information to be sure. If you wish to take any vitamins alongside your prescribed medicines, it's important to speak to your pharmacist or doctor, who can advise you what you can take.
Levetiracetam does not affect any type of contraception, including the combined pill and emergency contraception. Some men with epilepsy and taking epilepsy medicines may have reduced levels of testosterone. Some epilepsy medicines also reduce the amount of sperm you produce or affect the quality of it. If you have epilepsy, you're entitled to free prescriptions for all of your medicines not just your epilepsy ones.
To claim your free prescriptions, you'll need a medical exemption certificate. The application form for the medical exemption certificate is called FP92A. You can get this from your doctor's surgery. You'll need to fill in the form, then your doctor will sign it and send it off. But it may make you feel sleepy or tired, and alcohol and hangovers can bring on seizures in some people with epilepsy.
During the first few days of taking levetiracetam, it's best to stop drinking alcohol until you see how the medicine affects you. If you do drink, try not to have more than the recommended guidelines of up to 14 units of alcohol a week. A standard glass of wine ml is 2 units. A pint of lager or beer is usually 2 to 3 units of alcohol. You may feel sleepy, tired or dizzy when you first start taking levetiracetam or when the dose is increased. If this happens to you, do not drive or ride a bike or operate machinery until you feel more alert.
If you have epilepsy, you're not allowed to drive until you have had no seizures for 1 year. You're also not allowed to drive for 6 months if you change your epilepsy medicine. Driving rules if you change or withdraw your medicine , Epilepsy Action. Epilepsy and driving information , GOV. Page last reviewed: 25 February Next review due: 25 February Levetiracetam - Brand names: Desitrend, Keppra On this page About levetiracetam Key facts Who can and cannot take levetiracetam How and when to take levetiracetam Side effects How to cope with side effects of levetiracetam Pregnancy and breastfeeding Cautions with other medicines Common questions about levetiracetam.
About levetiracetam Levetiracetam is a medicine used to treat epilepsy. Levetiracetam is available on prescription. Help us improve our website Can you answer a quick question about your visit today? You'll usually start taking levetiracetam once a day and increase to twice a day.
You can take it with or without food. The most common side effects of levetiracetam are headaches, feeling sleepy and a blocked nose or itchy throat. It can take a few weeks for levetiracetam to work. You may still have seizures during this time. Levetiracetam can be taken by adults and children aged 1 month and over. Levetiracetam is not suitable for some people. To make sure levetiracetam is safe for you, tell your doctor if you: have ever had an allergic reaction to levetiracetam or other medicines in the past have kidney problems have had a low mood depression or thoughts of harming or killing yourself in the past are pregnant, or planning to become pregnant have an intolerance to some sugars — some brands of levetiracetam liquid contain maltitol have ever had an allergic reaction to preservatives and artificial food colourings like sunset yellow E — some brands of levetiracetam contain these.
Dosage The usual dose of levetiracetam to treat epilepsy in: adults and older children aged 12 years and over — mg to 3,mg a day, taken as 1 or 2 doses, but the exact dose may depend on your weight.
Will my dose go up or down?
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