Keppra how long to take effect

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? Once you find a dose that suits you, it'll usually stay the same. What if I forget to take it? If you take levetiracetam and miss a dose: once a day — take the missed dose as soon as you remember.

Give the next dose at the regular time. Do not give your child 2 doses to make up for 1 missed dose. How long does it take to work. How long does levetiracetam take to work? Side effects. What are the possible side effects of levetiracetam? Check with your child's doctor if your child continues to have any of these side effects and they do not go away, or they bother your child: feeling sleepy weakness dizziness Call your child's doctor during office hours if your child has any of these side effects: easy bruising clumsiness or unsteadiness loss of memory changes in mood more angry, sad, or nervous increase in seizures Most of the following side effects are not common, but they may be a sign of a serious problem.

Call your child's doctor right away or take your child to Emergency if your child has any of these side effects: swelling of the face, lips, or tongue wheezing or difficulty breathing rash or hives red raised spots on the skin. Safety measures. What safety measures should you take when your child is using levetiracetam? Other important information. What other important information should you know about levetiracetam? Keep a list of all medications your child is on to show the doctor or pharmacist.

Do not share your child's medicine with others. Do not give anyone else's medicine to your child. Make sure you always have enough levetiracetam to last through weekends, holidays, and vacations. Call your pharmacy at least 2 days before your child runs out of medicine to order refills. Keep levetiracetam at room temperature in a dry place away from sunlight. Do NOT store it in the bathroom or kitchen. Do not keep any medicines that are out of date.

Check with your pharmacist about the best way to throw away outdated or leftover medicines. 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. How to store: Store at room temperature below 86 o F, 30 o C. Keep away from light and moisture. Keep all medicines out of reach of children. What if I forget? If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember it.

If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your usual schedule. Avoid taking 2 doses at the same time or taking extra doses. If you are not sure about what to do, call your health care provider's office for advice. Do your best to follow their directions. To avoid missed doses, use a pillbox or set an alarm on your watch or phone. Commercial names and formulations: Brand name: Keppra Formulations: tablet, extended-release tablet, oral solution, injectable solution Years on the market: In the US since How to store it?

Store at room temperature. Can this medication be started at a high dose or it has to be started gradually? Type of epilepsy that helps: Generalized and partial Epilepsy. FDA approved for: Keppra is approved as a treatment for partial onset seizures in adults and children, as a treatment for myoclonic seizures in adults and adolescents, and as a treatment for primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in adults and children.

Serious side effects: Increase in the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior, depression. What happens if I get too much of it intoxication? Symptoms may include severe drowsiness, agitation, aggressive behavior, loss of consciousness, shallow breathing and possibly coma.