💊 Levetiracetam (Levetiracetam)
Levetiracetam is an antiepileptic drug used to control certain types of seizures in adults and children. This product is an oral solution of 100 mg/mL with a grape flavor. The dose is set by your doctor or pharmacist for each patient.
In Arabic: ليفيتيراسيتام
🏷️ Brand names & manufacturers
Keppra Xr🏭 UCB, Inc.DailyMed
Keppra🏭 UCB, Inc.DailyMed
Levetiracetam Levetiracetam🏭 Atlantic Biologicals Corp.DailyMed
Levetiracetam Solution🏭 Chartwell RX, LLCDailyMed
Levetiracetam🏭 Mylan Institutional Inc.DailyMed✅ What it is used for
- Treatment of partial-onset seizures in patients 1 month of age and older
- Adjunctive treatment of myoclonic seizures in patients 12 years and older with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy
- Adjunctive treatment of primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in patients 6 years and older with idiopathic generalized epilepsy
🧪 Active ingredient
The active substance is levetiracetam, an antiepileptic drug chemically unrelated to other antiepileptic drugs. Its precise mechanism is unknown; binding to the synaptic vesicle protein SV2A may contribute to its effect.
🌿 Benefits
- Helps control partial-onset seizures in adults and children from 1 month of age
- Used as add-on therapy for myoclonic and primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures
- Liquid form makes dosing easier for pediatric patients weighing 20 kg or less
📝 How to use
- Taken by mouth, with or without food
- The dose is set by your doctor or pharmacist based on age, weight, condition, and kidney function
- For children, dosing is weight-based and a calibrated measuring device must be used (not a household teaspoon or tablespoon)
- Usually taken twice daily as directed by the doctor
- Do not stop suddenly; the drug must be withdrawn gradually under medical supervision
💊 Dosage forms
- Oral solution 100 mg/mL (clear, colorless to light yellow, grape-flavored liquid)
- 16 fl. oz. (473 mL) bottles
- 5 mL, 10 mL, and 15 mL unit dose cups in trays of 10
⚠️ Common side effects
- Sleepiness (somnolence)
- Weakness (asthenia)
- Dizziness
- Infection
- Headache
- In children: fatigue, aggression, nasal congestion, decreased appetite, irritability
🚨 Serious — seek medical help
- Behavioral abnormalities and psychotic symptoms (aggression, agitation, anxiety, depression)
- Suicidal thoughts or behavior or unusual changes in mood
- Severe allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis and angioedema
- Serious skin reactions and rash
- Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS)/multiorgan hypersensitivity
- Coordination difficulties (ataxia, abnormal gait)
- Blood abnormalities and increased blood pressure
⛔ Do not use if
- Known hypersensitivity to levetiracetam (reactions have included anaphylaxis and angioedema)
❗ Warnings & precautions
- Monitor for new behavioral changes or psychiatric symptoms
- Monitor for depression, suicidal thoughts, or unusual changes in mood or behavior
- May cause sleepiness and fatigue; do not drive or operate machinery until you know how the drug affects you
- Discontinue at the first sign of rash unless clearly not drug related
- Coordination difficulties may occur
- Must be withdrawn gradually to avoid withdrawal seizures
- Dose adjustment may be needed in patients with impaired kidney function
🤰 Pregnancy
Blood levels may decrease during pregnancy, especially in the third trimester, so levels should be monitored and the dose may need adjustment. Prolonged experience in pregnant women has not identified a drug-associated risk of major birth defects or miscarriage, but animal studies showed developmental toxicity at doses similar to human therapeutic doses. Women are encouraged to enroll in the NAAED pregnancy registry. Do not stop the drug without consulting your doctor.
🍼 Breastfeeding
The label text provided does not include a breastfeeding section. Consult your doctor or pharmacist before use while breastfeeding.
🧒 Children
Safety and effectiveness are established for partial-onset seizures from 1 month to 16 years, for myoclonic seizures from 12 years, and for primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures from 6 years. Dosing is weight-based and requires a calibrated measuring device. Safety and effectiveness have not been established below these ages. Non-psychotic behavioral symptoms were more frequent in children than in adults.
👴 Older adults
No overall differences in safety were observed between elderly and younger subjects. The drug is substantially excreted by the kidney and the risk of adverse reactions may be greater with impaired renal function, so care should be taken in dose selection and monitoring renal function may be useful.
🌡️ Storage
Store at 25°C (77°F); excursions permitted between 15°C and 30°C (59°F to 86°F).
⏰ Missed dose
The label text provided gives no specific instructions for a missed dose. Ask your doctor or pharmacist, and do not double the dose without medical guidance.
🆘 Overdose
Overdose symptoms include drowsiness, agitation, aggression, depressed level of consciousness, respiratory depression, and coma. There is no specific antidote; treatment is supportive and hemodialysis may be considered. Contact emergency services or a Poison Control Center immediately.
💰 Price & brands in your area
🏛️ Official price in Palestine — Ministry of Health price list:
| Product | Company | Pack | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epitam 250 mg (30 tab) Levetiracetam 250mg | Pharmacare Store | 30 Tab | 41 ₪ |
| Epitam 500mg (30 tab) Levetiracetam 500mg | Pharmacare Store | 30 Tab | 65 ₪ |
| EPITAM 750MG 30 FCT LEVETIRACETAM | Pharmacare Store | 30 TAB | 85 ₪ |
| Epitam Syrup 100 mg/ml Levetiracetam 100mg/ml | Pharmacare Store | syrup of 150 ml | 87 ₪ |
| SETANORM 100 mg/ 1 ML SOLUTION LEVETIRACETAM | Jepharm Co. | BOTTLE OF 240 ML | 139 ₪ |
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Mechanism of action
The precise mechanism is unknown. Binding to the synaptic vesicle protein SV2A, thought to be involved in regulation of vesicle exocytosis, may contribute to the antiseizure effect. Absorption is rapid with peak plasma concentration in about 1 hour; oral bioavailability of tablets is 100%. Food does not affect extent of absorption but decreases Cmax by 20% and delays Tmax by 1.5 hours. Plasma protein binding is less than 10%. No significant QTc prolongation was shown.
Labeled dosing
Dose is set by the doctor or pharmacist. Adults 16 years and older with partial-onset seizures: start 500 mg twice daily, increase by 500 mg twice daily every 2 weeks to the recommended 1500 mg twice daily (maximum 3000 mg/day; no evidence of additional benefit above this). Same regimen for myoclonic seizures (12 years and older) and primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures (16 years and older). Dose adjustment is recommended in renal impairment based on creatinine clearance.
- Given with or without food
- Use the oral solution for pediatric patients weighing 20 kg or less; weight-based dosing with a calibrated device
- Pediatric partial-onset seizures: 1 month to <6 months 7 mg/kg twice daily (target 21 mg/kg), 6 months to <4 years 10 mg/kg (target 25 mg/kg), 4 to <16 years 10 mg/kg (target 30 mg/kg), all twice daily
- Pediatric primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures, 6 to <16 years: 10 mg/kg twice daily, target 30 mg/kg twice daily
- Withdraw gradually to avoid withdrawal seizures
- Hemodialysis removes about 50% of the drug in 4 hours and should be considered in overdose
🎓 Key points for students
- Antiepileptic; likely acts via binding to synaptic vesicle protein SV2A
- Indications: partial-onset seizures (from 1 month), myoclonic seizures in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (12 years and older, adjunctive), primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures (6 years and older, adjunctive)
- Common adult adverse effects: somnolence, asthenia, infection, dizziness
- Common pediatric adverse effects: fatigue, aggression, nasal congestion, decreased appetite, irritability
- Contraindication: hypersensitivity (anaphylaxis, angioedema)
- Warnings: behavioral/psychotic symptoms, suicidality, somnolence, skin reactions and DRESS, ataxia, gradual withdrawal
- Renally excreted; dose adjustment needed in renal impairment
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What is levetiracetam used for?
It is used to treat partial-onset seizures from 1 month of age and as add-on therapy for myoclonic seizures (12 years and older) and primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures (6 years and older).
Can I stop taking it suddenly?
No. It must be withdrawn gradually under your doctor's supervision to avoid withdrawal seizures.
Does it affect driving?
It may cause sleepiness, fatigue, dizziness, and coordination problems, so do not drive or operate machinery until you know how it affects you.
What are the common side effects?
Sleepiness, weakness, dizziness, infection, and headache; in children fatigue, aggression, decreased appetite, and irritability.
Can it be used during pregnancy?
Blood levels may fall during pregnancy and the dose may need adjusting, so do not stop it without consulting your doctor.
How do I measure the oral solution for a child?
Use a calibrated measuring device, not a household spoon. The dose is weight-based and set by the doctor.
⚕️ For education only — not a substitute for advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Do not start or stop any medicine without advice. Source: official FDA drug label via openFDA (2025-04), simplified. Updated: 2026-11-11.