Levetiracetam

A healthcare provider may prescribe levetiracetam to treat partial seizures, myoclonic, and generalized tonic clonic seizures in people with epilepsy. This medication is not intended to be used alone and is only approved for use in combination with other seizure medications. It comes in the form of a tablet, liquid, or as an injection. Potential side effects of the drug may include drowsiness, difficulty breathing, and agitation.

Levetiracetam Drug Information

What Is Levetiracetam?

Levetiracetam (Keppra^®) is a prescription medication used to treat epilepsy. In particular, it is approved to treat the following types of seizures:

Partial seizures in adults and children as young as one month old
Myoclonic seizures in adults and adolescents age 12 and older
Generalized tonic clonic ("grand mal") seizures in adults and children age six and older.

Levetiracetam is approved only for use in combination with other seizure medications; it is not approved to be used alone.

(Click What Is Levetiracetam Used For? for more information on what the drug is used for, including possible off-label uses.)

Side Effects

As with any medicine, side effects are possible with levetiracetam. However, not everyone who takes the drug will have problems. In fact, most people tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider. Serious side effects are less common.

Common side effects of levetiracetam include, but are not limited to:

Drowsiness
Accidental injury
Weakness
Vomiting.

(Click Side Effects of Levetiracetam to learn more, including potentially serious side effects that you should report immediately to your healthcare provider.)

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