Levetiracetam (Keppra) Uses

Levetiracetam is used to treat partial seizures (also called focal seizures), myoclonic seizures, and generalized tonic clonic seizures. 

There may be other uses of this prescription medicine—your pharmacist or doctor can give you further drug information. Levetiracetam is sometimes used off-label to treat status epilepticus (prolonged seizure activity for 5 minutes or longer) and for seizure prevention in people with traumatic brain injury or subarachnoid hemorrhage (a type of brain bleed).

Levetiracetam (Keppra) Mechanism of Action

Levetiracetam works by decreasing abnormal brain activity. The exact mechanism of how it exerts this effect is unknown.

Levetiracetam (Keppra) Doses

Partial onset seizures in patients 1 month of age and older with epilepsy

• Patients aged 1 month to 6 months: Starting dose of 7 mg/kg twice daily. The dose is increased every 2 weeks to a recommended maintenance dose of 21 mg/kg twice daily.
• Patients aged 6 months to 4 years: Starting dose of 10 mg/kg twice daily. The dose is increased every 2 weeks to a recommended maintenance dose of 25 mg/kg twice daily. 
• Patients aged 4 years to 16 years: Starting dose of 10 mg/kg twice daily. The dose is increased every 2 weeks to a recommended maintenance dose of 30 mg/kg twice daily. 
• Patients aged 16 years and older: Starting dose of 500 mg twice daily. The dose is increased every 2 weeks to a recommended maintenance dose of 1500 mg twice daily.

Myoclonic seizures in patients 12 years of age and older with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy

Starting dose of 500 mg twice daily. The dose is increased every 2 weeks to a recommended maintenance dose of 1500 mg twice daily.

Primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in patients aged 6 years of age and older with idiopathic generalized epilepsy

• Patients aged 6 years to 16 years: Starting dose of 10 mg/kg twice daily. The dose is increased every 2 weeks to a recommended maintenance dose of 30 mg/kg twice daily.
• Patients aged 16 years and older: Starting dose of 500 mg twice daily. The dose is increased 2 weeks to a recommended maintenance dose of 1500 mg twice daily.

Note: The maximum recommended daily dose of levetiracetam in adults is 3,000 mg. Dose adjustment may be necessary for elderly patients and patients with significant renal impairment (reduced kidney function).