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Levetiracetam is used to treat partial onset seizures in adults and children who are at least 1 month old. The Spritam brand of levetiracetam is not for use in children younger than 4 years old or children who weigh less than 44 pounds.
Levetiracetam is also used to treat tonic-clonic seizures in people who are at least 6 years old, and myoclonic seizures in people who are at least 12 years old.
Levetiracetam may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Some people have thoughts about suicide when first taking this medicine. Stay alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor.
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.
You may have thoughts about suicide while taking levetiracetam. Your doctor should check your progress at regular visits. Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms.
Follow your doctor's instructions about taking seizure medication if you are pregnant. Seizure control is very important during pregnancy, and having a seizure could harm both mother and baby. Your dose needs may be different during pregnancy. Do not start or stop taking this medicine without your doctor's advice, and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant.
If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry to track the effects of levetiracetam on the baby.
It may not be safe to breastfeed while using this medicine. Ask your doctor about any risk.
Do not give this medicine to a child without medical advice.
Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.
Take the medicine at the same time each day, with or without food.
Levetiracetam doses are based on weight in children. Your child's dose needs may change if the child gains or loses weight.
Your dose needs may change if you switch to a different brand, strength, or form of this medicine. Avoid medication errors by using only the form and strength your doctor prescribes.
Measure liquid medicine carefully. Use the dosing syringe provided, or use a medicine dose-measuring device (not a kitchen spoon).
Swallow the extended-release tablet whole and do not crush, chew, or break it.
To take the Spritam dissolvable tablet:
Remove a tablet from the package only when you are ready to take the medicine.
Use dry hands to remove the tablet and place it on your tongue. Then take a sip of liquid and hold it in your mouth.
Do not swallow the tablet whole. Allow it to dissolve in your mouth with the sip of liquid.
Swallow only after the tablet has completely dissolved, which should take less than 30 seconds.
You should not stop using levetiracetam suddenly, unless your doctor tells you to stop the medicine because of a serious side effect. Stopping suddenly may cause increased seizures. Follow your doctor's instructions very carefully.
Use all seizure medications as directed and read all medication guides you receive. Do not change your dose or dosing schedule without your doctor's advice.
In case of emergency, wear or carry medical identification to let others know you use seizure medication.
Your kidney function may need to be tested often.
Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.
Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
Overdose symptoms may include extreme drowsiness, agitation, aggression, shallow breathing, weakness, or fainting.
Drinking alcohol with levetiracetam can cause side effects and may also increase the risk of seizures.
Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how this medicine will affect you. Dizziness or drowsiness can cause falls, accidents, or severe injuries.
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning in your eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling).
Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor, such as: mood or behavior changes, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel agitated, hostile, irritable, hyperactive (mentally or physically), or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
unusual changes in mood or behavior (unusual risk-taking behavior, being irritable or talkative);
confusion, hallucinations, loss of balance or coordination;
extreme drowsiness, feeling very weak or tired;
problems with walking or movement;
the first sign of any 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.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Other drugs may affect levetiracetam, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
Medically reviewed by USARx EDITORIAL TEAM Last updated on 1/1/2020.
Source: Drugs.com Levetiracetam (www.drugs.com/mtm/levetiracetam.html).
Commonly reported side effects of levetiracetam include: infection, neurosis, drowsiness, asthenia, headache, nasopharyngitis, nervousness, abnormal behavior, aggressive behavior, agitation, anxiety, apathy, depersonalization, depression, fatigue, hostility, hyperkinetic muscle activity, mental disorders, outbursts of anger, personality disorder, emotional lability, irritability, laceration, and mood changes. Other side effects include: tonic clonic epilepsy, dizziness, vertigo, decreased neutrophils, depressed mood, influenza, neck pain, and pain. See below for a comprehensive list of adverse effects.
Applies to levetiracetam: oral solution, oral tablet, oral tablet for suspension, oral tablet extended release
Other dosage forms:
Along with its needed effects, levetiracetam may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking levetiracetam:
More common
Less common
Incidence not known
Some side effects of levetiracetam may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
Less common
Incidence not known
Applies to levetiracetam: intravenous solution, oral solution, oral tablet, oral tablet dispersible, oral tablet extended release
The more commonly reported adverse reactions in adults have included somnolence, asthenia, and dizziness; in children, fatigue, aggression, nasal congestion, decreased appetite, and irritability.
Very common (10% or more): Headache (14%), somnolence (14%)
Common (1% to 10%): Dizziness, ataxia, vertigo, paresthesia, coordination difficulties
Postmarketing reports: Choreoathetosis, dyskinesia
Very Common (10% or more): Non-psychotic behavioral symptoms (up to 38%), psychotic symptoms (up to 17%)
Common (1% to 10%): Depression, nervousness, amnesia, anxiety, hostility, emotional lability, irritability, mood swings, hypersomnia, insomnia, apathy, tearfulness, negativism
Postmarketing reports: Panic attack
In studies, non-psychotic behavioral symptoms (reported as aggression, agitation, anger, anxiety, apathy, depersonalization, depression, emotional lability, hostility, hyperkinesias, irritability, nervousness, neurosis, and personality disorder) were reported in 13% of adults and 38% of pediatric patients aged 4 to 16 years compared to 6% and 19%, respectively in placebo patients. In patients less than 4 years old, irritability was reported in 12% compared to 0% in placebo patients. In adult patients, behavioral symptoms resulted in dose reduction or discontinuation 0.8% and 1.7% of patients, respectively. Dose reduction or discontinuation due to behavioral symptoms occurred in 11% of pediatric patients.
In studies, psychotic symptoms were reported in 1%, 2%, and 17% of patients receiving this drug aged adult, 4 to 16 years old, and less than 4 years compared to 0.2%, 2%, and 5% in placebo patients, respectively.
In adults, 3.2% of patients receiving this drug had at least 1 WBC of 2.8 x 10(9)/L or lower and 2.4% had at least 1 neutrophil count of 1 x 10(9)/L or lower compared to 1.8% and 1.4% of placebo patients, respectively. Of those with a low neutrophil count, only 1 patient did not have resolution with continued treatment. No patient discontinued therapy due to a low neutrophil count. In pediatric patients 4 to 16 years old, mean decreases in WBC and neutrophils were 0.4 x 10(9)/L and 0.3 x 10(9)/L, respectively, compared to small increases in placebo patients. Mean relative lymphocyte counts increased by 1.7% in patients receiving this drug (placebo=decrease of 4%).
Common (1% to 10%): Decreased white blood cell count (WBC), decreased neutrophil count, increased lymphocyte counts, higher eosinophil counts
Frequency not reported: Decreases in white blood cell, neutrophil, and red blood cell counts; decreased in hemoglobin and hematocrit; increases in eosinophil counts
Postmarketing reports: Pancytopenia (with bone marrow suppression reported in some cases), thrombocytopenia, agranulocytosis
Postmarketing reports: Anaphylaxis
Alopecia reported with this drug resolved with discontinuation of therapy in most cases.
Frequency not reported: Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN)
Postmarketing reports: Erythema multiforme, alopecia, angioedema
Very common (10% or more): Asthenia (15%), fatigue (10%)
Common (1% to 10%): Pain, vertigo
Common (1% to 10%): Pharyngitis, rhinitis, increased cough, sinusitis
Common (1% to 10%): Diarrhea, gastroenteritis, constipation
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Nausea
Postmarketing reports: Pancreatitis
Common (1% to 10%): Diplopia
Postmarketing reports: Abnormal liver function tests, hepatic failure, hepatitis
Common (1% to 10%): Neck pain
Postmarketing reports: Muscular weakness
Very common (10% or more): Infection (13%)
Common (1% to 10%): Influenza
Postmarketing reports: Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS)
Common (1% to 10%): Anorexia
Postmarketing reports: Weight loss, hyponatremia
Very common (10% or more): Increased diastolic blood pressure (less than 4 years of age; 17%)
In a clinical trial in patients 1 month to less than 4 years, 17% of patients had a significantly elevated diastolic blood pressure (placebo=2%). No overall difference in mean diastolic blood pressure was observed in treated patients compared with placebo nor was this effect observed in trials with older pediatric patients or adults.
Postmarketing reports: Acute kidney injury
Medically reviewed by USARx EDITORIAL TEAM Last updated on 1/1/2020.
Source: Drugs.com Levetiracetam (www.drugs.com/mtm/levetiracetam.html).
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