Levetiracetam
About Levetiracetam
Levetiracetam is a prescription medication used to help control and prevent various types of seizures in adults and children with epilepsy. It works by calming abnormal electrical signals in the brain to prevent sudden seizure activity. This medicine is a key part of long-term seizure management.
To keep your seizures well-controlled, you must take Levetiracetam regularly at the same times every day, typically twice daily. You can take this oral medicine with or without food, but staying consistent with your choice helps keep drug levels steady in your body. Simple lifestyle adjustments, such as getting enough sleep and avoiding stress, can also greatly improve your treatment results.
While taking Levetiracetam, you may experience mild side effects like drowsiness or feeling dizzy. However, you should contact your doctor immediately if you notice severe mood changes, extreme irritability, or thoughts of self-harm, as these require prompt medical attention.
Before starting this medication, tell your doctor if you have kidney disease, as your dose may need to be adjusted, or if you have a history of depression or mood disorders. Do not take this medicine if you have ever had an allergic reaction to it or any of its ingredients.
Taking Levetiracetam with alcohol can significantly increase drowsiness and raise your risk of seizures, so it is best to avoid alcohol completely. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or an older adult, you should discuss the specific risks and benefits with your doctor to ensure this medicine is safe for your situation.
Uses of Levetiracetam
• Management of Epilepsy: Levetiracetam is frequently administered to treat different kinds of seizures linked to epilepsy in both children and adults.
• Partial-onset seizures can be effectively controlled with this medication, which helps to lessen the frequency and intensity of these seizures.
• Adjunct Therapy: To improve seizure control, Levetiracetam can be taken in conjunction with other anti-epileptic medications.
• Control of Status Epilepticus: To help stabilise the patient in an emergency, Levetiracetam may be used as part of the status epilepticus management regimen.
Medicinal Benefits
When taken as prescribed, Levetiracetam offers several important benefits for seizure control and overall quality of life, including:
- Reduces Seizure Frequency: Helps reduce the frequency of seizures, allowing for better day-to-day functioning and independence.
- Promotes a More Predictable Lifestyle: Supports a more predictable lifestyle by lowering the risk of unexpected seizure episodes.
- Improves Confidence in Daily Activities: Improves confidence in performing daily activities such as working, studying, travelling, and spending time with family.
- Helps Prevent Seizure-Related Injuries: Helps protect against injuries and accidents that may occur during seizures.
- Supports Long-Term Seizure Control: Supports long-term seizure management when taken consistently as part of a treatment plan.
- Fewer Drug Interactions: Has relatively few clinically significant drug interactions compared with many older anti-seizure medicines.
- Compatible with Combination Therapy: Can be used alongside other prescribed treatments with less concern about complex medication interactions.
- Enhances Quality of Life: Contributes to an improved overall quality of life by helping maintain better seizure control.
Directions for Use
- Levetiracetam can be taken with or without food as advised by your doctor.
- Follow your doctor's instructions on the dosage and timing of this medication.
- Swallow Levetiracetam as a whole with a glass of water.
- Do not crush, break, or chew it.
Storage
Side Effects of Levetiracetam
Common Side Effects (Usually mild):
- Extreme sleepiness or low energy
- Dizziness or feeling unsteady on your feet
- Mild headache
- Common cold symptoms, like a stuffy nose or sore throat
Serious Side Effects (Call a doctor right away):
- Severe changes in mood, such as sudden anger, anxiety, or deep sadness
- Thoughts of hurting yourself or suicide
- Signs of a severe allergic reaction, including swelling of the face, tongue, or throat, or hives
- Severe skin reactions, such as blistering, peeling, or a widespread red rash
Medicines Containing this Salt
View AllDrug Warnings
- Do Not Stop Treatment Suddenly: Never stop taking Levetiracetam suddenly, as doing so can trigger continuous, severe seizures that are difficult to stop.
- Use Caution with Driving and Machinery: Avoid driving, riding a bike, or operating heavy machinery until you are completely sure how this medicine affects your alertness.
- Check the Oral Solution Before Use: If you use the oral liquid solution, check the bottle before each use; the liquid should be clear and colourless. Do not take it if it looks cloudy or has floating particles.
- Inform Healthcare Providers: Tell all your healthcare providers, including your dentist and any surgeons, that you are taking Levetiracetam before having any medical procedures.
- Monitor Changes in Mood or Behaviour: Ask a close family member or caregiver to monitor you for any sudden mood swings, anger, or depressive thoughts when you first start taking this medicine.
Drug Interactions
Inform your doctor about all medicines you are taking, as some drugs may interact with Levetiracetam and increase the risk of side effects or affect your treatment:
- Sedatives or sleeping pills: Taking these alongside Levetiracetam can significantly increase extreme sleepiness and lower your alertness.
- Other seizure medicines: While Levetiracetam has few interactions, combining it with other anti-seizure drugs can sometimes alter how your body processes them, so close monitoring is recommended.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeYou are recommended not to consume alcohol along with Levetiracetam to avoid unpleasant side-effects like drowsiness, dizziness, or sleepiness. It may also lead to a life-threatening condition like coma if taken with excessive alcohol.
Pregnancy
unsafeLevetiracetam is a Category C risk pregnancy drug that is considered unsafe for pregnant women. Levetiracetam can have some harmful effects on the baby (fetus), so your doctor will weigh the benefits and any potential risks before prescribing it to you.
Breast Feeding
unsafeLevetiracetam passes into breast milk and may affect the baby's health. So, inform your doctor if your are breastfeeding before starting the treatment.
Driving
unsafeLevetiracetam usually causes dizziness, drowsiness, and visual disturbances, which may affect their ability to drive or operate machinery. So, do not drive or operate heavy machinery if you feel sleepy or dizzy after taking Levetiracetam. Tell your doctor if you experience any of these side effects.
Liver
cautionLevetiracetam to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of liver disease. The dose may have to be adjusted by your doctor.
Kidney
cautionLevetiracetam to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of kidney disorders. The dose may have to be adjusted by your doctor. Do not give Levetiracetam to dialysis patients and kidney failure patients.
Children
unsafeIt is not known whether Levetiracetam is safe or effective in treating conditions like panic disorder in children younger than 18 years old. So, your doctor will decide whether Levetiracetam can be given to the children less than 18 years of age or not.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Maintain a Regular Sleep Schedule: Maintain a regular sleep schedule, as sleep deprivation is one of the most common triggers for seizures.
- Keep a Seizure Diary: Keep a daily seizure diary to write down when seizures happen, what you were doing, and if you missed any doses of Levetiracetam. This helps your doctor optimise your treatment.
- Avoid Alcohol: Avoid drinking alcohol completely, as it can lower your seizure threshold and make the sleepiness from your medicine much worse.
- Manage Stress: Practice stress-reducing activities, such as deep breathing or light walking, because physical and emotional stress can trigger seizure activity.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Epilepsy: Epilepsy is a brain-related chronic disorder characterised by episodes of seizures (fits). In this condition, a chemical change in brain cells (neurons) leads to a sudden rise in electrical activity (impulse) in the brain, followed by sudden, jerky movements of limbs or a body part. This disease cannot be cured, but it can be managed.
FAQs
Levetiracetam is used to treat seizures (fits) due to epilepsy.
Levetiracetam works by slowing down the abnormal signals in the brain which cause episodes of seizures.
There is no clinical evidence that Levetiracetam affects fertility in either men or women. But, if you are trying to get pregnant, consult your doctor.
Do not stop taking Levetiracetam until instructed by your doctor. You may get side effects like confusion, depression, nervousness, sweating, and diarrhea. Your doctor may lower the dose of Levetiracetam if using it for more than 2-4 weeks of treatment to reduce side effects.
Levetiracetam is prescribed for the long term when used for epilepsy. So, if Levetiracetam is prescribed for more than 4 weeks, your doctor may reduce the dose before stopping it completely to prevent withdrawal symptoms.
Yes, if you feel unexpected puberty or slowing in growth, please consult your doctor and do as your doctor advises.
No, even if you feel better, you should not stop the medication without consulting your doctor as this might increase the episodes of seizures.
Caffeine is a stimulant that may reduce the calming effects of Levetiracetam. So, it is advisable to avoid caffeine intakes like coffee, tea, cola, or chocolate containing caffeine.
Yes, Levetiracetam may cause weight gain as an uncommon side effect. Follow a healthy diet and exercise regularly to maintain proper weight. Talk to the doctor if you have any concerns.
Levetiracetam might take a few weeks to begin working. You may still have seizures during this time.
Levetiracetam should be taken for as long as it has been prescribed by the doctor. The duration of treatment depends on your condition and response to the treatment.
Levetiracetam does not cause addiction as it is not a habit-forming medicine.
An overdose of Levetiracetam may cause sleepiness, aggression, agitation, decreased alertness, breathing problems, and coma. Consult the doctor if you have exceeded the recommended dose of Levetiracetam.
Levetiracetam should be discontinued gradually to prevent an increase in seizures. Consult the doctor if you have any concerns, the doctor will recommend gradual withdrawal of Levetiracetam.
Yes, Levetiracetam may cause sleepiness as a side effect. Therefore, avoid driving, operating heavy machinery or doing any activities that require alertness unless you know how this medicine affects you.
No, you must never stop taking Levetiracetam suddenly, even if you have been seizure-free for a long time. Stopping this medicine abruptly can cause dangerous, continuous seizures that require emergency medical treatment. Talk to your doctor to discuss how to slowly and safely lower your dose if stopping is appropriate.
Yes, feeling sleepy, tired, or dizzy is a common side effect when starting Levetiracetam or after a gradually increasing dose. For most people, this feeling gets better as the body adjusts to the medication. If the tiredness is severe or does not improve, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
You should not start or stop taking Levetiracetam during pregnancy without consulting your healthcare provider. Uncontrolled seizures can be dangerous to both you and your baby, but your doctor will help you weigh the risks and benefits to find the safest treatment plan. Talk to your doctor if you are planning a pregnancy.
No, you should avoid alcohol while taking this medicine. Alcohol can increase the risk of severe drowsiness and dizziness, and it can also lower your brain's resistance to seizures, making your treatment less effective. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have concerns about avoiding alcohol.
Levetiracetam has fewer drug interactions compared to many other seizure medicines. However, it can interact with drugs that cause sleepiness, such as sedatives, muscle relaxants, or other anti-seizure medications. Always give your doctor and pharmacist a complete list of all medications you take.
Yes, some people taking Levetiracetam may experience mood changes, irritability, anxiety, or unusual behavior. It is important to monitor these feelings, especially during the first few weeks of treatment. If you experience severe mood changes or thoughts of self-harm, contact your doctor immediately.
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If your next scheduled dose is only a few hours away, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule. Never take two doses at the same time to make up for a missed one. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you frequently miss doses.
Always use the oral syringe or dosing cup that comes with your prescription to measure the liquid medicine. Do not use a regular household spoon, as they are not accurate and can cause you to take too much or too little. Talk to your pharmacist if you need help learning how to use the measuring device.
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