After the tablet s for suspension dissolve, drink the mixture right away. If there is any medication left in the cup, add some more liquid and swirl the cup gently. Drink the mixture water right away to be sure that you swallow all of the medication. If you are taking the levetiracetam oral solution, do not use a household spoon to measure your dose. You might not get the right amount of medication. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to recommend a medicine dropper, spoon, cup, or syringe and to show you how to use it to measure your medication.
Your doctor may start you on a low dose of levetiracetam and gradually increase your dose, not more often than once every 2 weeks. Levetiracetam controls epilepsy but does not cure it. Continue to take levetiracetam even if you feel well. Do not stop taking levetiracetam without talking to your doctor, even if you experience side effects such as unusual changes in behavior or mood.
If you suddenly stop taking levetiracetam, your seizures may become worse. Your doctor will probably decrease your dose gradually. Your doctor or pharmacist will give you the manufacturer's patient information sheet Medication Guide when you begin treatment with levetiracetam and each time you refill your prescription.
Read the information carefully and ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. If it has only been a few hours since the time you were scheduled to take the dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it.
However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
Levetiracetam may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication. Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Avoid dangerous activities when first starting this medicine or if taking a larger dose, untill you see If you have any side effects. Long-term side effects of levetiracetam have not been reported.
What are the most serious side effects of Levetiracetam? Read the package insert for more information. Call your provider's office right away if any of these problems occur.
Examples of changes seen include: Anger, aggression Decreased ability to cope with daily life Depression Excessive emotional reactions or frequent mood swings or changes Severe anxiety, agitation, or confused thoughts Thoughts of suicide Severe skin reactions: Rare but serious skin reactions, such as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome SJS and toxic epidermal necrolysis TEN , have been reported with levetiracetam.
Report any fever or rash to a health care provider as this can be a life-threatening condition. These types of skin reactions happen most commonly in the second or third week after starting the medicine, though it can happen at other times too. Taking seizure medicines may increase the risk of having suicidal thoughts or actions.
Do not make any changes to the medicines without first talking to the prescribing health care provider. Pay close attention to any day-to-day changes in mood, behavior and actions.
These changes can happen very quickly so it is important to be mindful of any sudden differences. Be aware of common warning signs that might be a signal for risk of suicide. Some of these are: Talking or thinking about wanting to hurt yourself or end your life Withdrawing from friends and family Becoming depressed or having your depression get worse Becoming preoccupied with death and dying Giving away prized possessions Contact your health care provider before stopping any seizure meicine.
This could possibly lead to worsening of seizure and mood. What else is Levetiracetam used for? There are no specific reports of off-label use of levetiracetam. Who should not take Levetiracetam? Can Levetiracetam be taken with other medicines? Levetiracetam does not affect the level of other medicines in the body, and other medicines do not affect levetiracetam.
What are the effects of Levetiracetam on Children? The dose of levetiracetam used in children is based on their weight and age. It is usually started at a low dose and may be increased slowly to limit side effects. This medicine is usually given in two doses about 12 hours apart.
Children's bodies handle medicines differently than teenagers and adults. The dose in a young child may be different and will need to be adjusted as they get older. See the package insert for details on how to start a child on levetiracetam and the recommended dose for their age and weight. If a woman takes Levetiracetam during pregnancy will it hurt the baby?
Studies in animals show possible harmful effects of levetiracetam to the developing fetus. Yet this needs to be studied in humans as more women use the drug.
Talk to your health care providers if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. The risk of birth defects is generally higher in children of women who: Take more than one seizure medicine at the same time Have a family history of birth defects All women who are capable of becoming pregnant should take at least 0. Women at high risk of having a child with a birth defect such as those with a birth defect in a previous pregnancy or taking certain seizure medicines may be asked to take 4 mg mcg daily before and during pregnancy.
Talk to your health care provider about using folic acid and how much to take. Start taking this vitamin before you become pregnant.
Talk to your health care provider before pregnancy about seizures and if medicine changes may be needed. Know when to check blood levels of medicine during and after pregnancy. The dose of seizure medicine may need to be adjusted during and after pregnancy. Women who wish to breastfeed should talk to their doctor about the best medicine to use during pregnancy and when breastfeeding.
If you choose to breastfeed, check the baby for drowsiness and keep track of their weight gain and development, especially if you are taking more than one seizure medicine. Talk to your health care team about any concerns that arise and if you have any problems with breastfeeding.
What are the effects of Levetiracetam on Seniors Levetiracetam is commonly prescribed for people over A very low dose of levetiracetam may need to be used when starting it in older adults. The dose of medicine would then be increased more slowly. Sometimes a person may be asked to take levetiracetam just once a day.
Seniors may be more sensitive to the side effects of this medicine. Common side effects like sleepiness, dizziness, or loss of strength, may be worse when taking levetiracetam. Older adults may be at greater risk of injury from falls or other accidents resulting from these problems.
Family members or caregivers of people who are taking this medication should contact the person's doctor immediately if they notice unusual behaviour changes.
Pregnancy: Levetiracetam may cause harm to the developing baby if the mother takes it when she is pregnant. This medication should only be used during pregnancy if the benefits outweigh the risks. If you become pregnant while taking this medication, contact your doctor immediately. Breast-feeding: This medication passes into breast milk. If you are breast-feeding and are taking levetiracetam, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.
Children and adolescents: The safety and effectiveness of using this medication have not been established for children less than 1 month of age with partial onset seizures. The safety and effectiveness of this medication have not been established for the treatment of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy or primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures for children under the age of 12 years. If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.
Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:. An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed. Medications other than those listed above may interact with this medication. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter non-prescription , and herbal medications you are taking.
Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them. All material copyright MediResource Inc. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only.
Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www. About this Medication. How does this medication work? What will it do for me? Acne Doctor Discussion Guide.
You should try to take this medicine at the same time each day. Swallow the tablet or the extended-release tablet whole. Do not break, crush, or chew it. There is an oral liquid form of this medicine if you or your child cannot swallow the tablets. If you do not see the blue or white, off-white layer, do not take the tablet. A part of the tablet may also pass into your stool. This is normal and is nothing to worry about.
Do not open the blister pack that contains the tablet until you are ready to take it. Remove the tablet from the blister pack by peeling back the foil, then taking the tablet out. Do not push the tablet through the foil. Place the tablet on your tongue and take a sip of water. After it has melted, swallow. Swallow right away after it has dissolved.
Then add a small volume of liquid to cup again, swirl gently, and swallow the liquid. Measure the oral liquid with a marked measuring spoon, dropper, oral syringe, or medicine cup. The average household teaspoon may not hold the right amount of liquid. If you have any questions about this, ask your doctor or pharmacist. This medicine can be used with other seizure medicines. Keep using all of your seizure medicines unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
Take only the form of this medicine that your doctor prescribed. If you refill your prescription and your pills look different, do not take the medicine and tell your doctor or pharmacist right away.
The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label.
The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine.
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