levetiracetam

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Harshi Dhingra, M.D.

Last Reviewed: Jul 07, 2023

Directions


How To Use Levetiracetam (Keppra)

Levetiracetam comes in the form of immediate-release tablets, extended release tablets, and an oral solution. Intravenous levetiracetam (Keppra injection) may be used in the hospital setting for seizure control under the supervision of healthcare providers.

This medication is usually prescribed to be taken by mouth once or twice a day. You can take levetiracetam tablets with or without food. Doctors recommend taking the medicine around the same times every day to maintain levetiracetam concentration in the blood and help you remember to take the medicine.

Swallow the extended-release tablet whole without cutting, chewing, or crushing it. If you are giving levetiracetam oral solution to a child, use the dose measuring cup or syringe to measure the dose accurately. Do not use a regular household spoon as this can result in the wrong amount of medication. 

Read the prescription label carefully and follow your doctor’s instructions. Your doctor will likely start you on a lower dose of levetiracetam and increase the dose every 2 weeks based on your clinical response or until you reach the recommended maximum maintenance dose. Do not perform a dosage adjustment or change the dosage frequency without your doctor’s approval. 

Tell your doctor if you experience any side effects from levetiracetam, including changes in mood, thoughts, or behavior. Also tell your doctor if your seizures are not well controlled on levetiracetam. If your seizures do not respond well to antiepileptic drug monotherapy, your doctor may add another medicine as adjunctive therapy. 

Do not stop taking the medicine suddenly without talking to your doctor, as this can result in increased seizure frequency. Your doctor will advise you on how to perform a gradual dose reduction.

Missed dose: If you miss a dose of levetiracetam, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose according to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

Storage: Store levetiracetam at room temperature (between 15-30° C or 59-86° F) away from moisture, heat, and direct light in a tightly closed container. Do not store medications in the bathroom where they can be exposed to moisture and heat. Keep all medications safely out of reach of children and pets.

Unused medicine: Unused levetiracetam should be disposed of in a way that children, other people, and pets cannot get to them. Do not throw levetiracetam in the trash or flush it down the toilet. The best way to properly discard expired or unneeded levetiracetam is through a drug take-back program or your local waste disposal company. Learn more about proper medication disposal

NOTEThis medication guide is a summary and may not contain all possible drug information on levetiracetam. The information contained here may not be up-to-date. This sheet is for information purposes only. If you have questions about levetiracetam, talk to your doctor or pharmacist for medical advice.


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