Get Informed: Keppra
Active Ingredient(s)
Levetiracetam
What does it do?
This product is used in the treatment of seizures. Its mechanism of action is unknown.
- Last Text Update:
- 2010-Mar-19 4:35 PM
- Last Data Update:
- 2010-Mar-19 9:03 PM
Other Names
- Keppra
- Levetiracetam
- Keppra XR
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
- Please log in
- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category:
- C
- Black Box Warning:
- No
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 30 Nov 1999
- Est US Patients*
- 772,400
- Generic Available
- Yes
- OTC Available
- No
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Keppra or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Keppra Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
- Please login or register (it's free) so iGuard can check how Keppra interacts with other drugs and diseases in your profile.
What is Keppra used for?
iGuard is currently tracking more than 5,100 patients that use Keppra (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Epilepsy/Seizures | 90% | 
|
| Neuropathic Pain | 5% | 
|
| Migraine/Headache | 2% |
|
| Other | 2% |
|
How well does Keppra work?
iGuard regularly polls our more than 5,100 users taking Keppra (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 80%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Keppra outweigh the bad things.
- 17%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Keppra.
Common Side Effects of Keppra
iGuard regularly polls our more than 5,100 users taking Keppra (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
32% of patients experience side-effects on Keppra
2% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Keppra
Most Common Side Effects...
-
Mood/Behavior Changes
-
Grogginess/Confusion
-
Drowsiness
-
Dizziness
-
= 10%
Less than 1%: Insomnia, Loss of Appetite, Memory/Speech Problems, Tremor
Global Patient Feedback for Keppra (Levetiracetam) ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
I take Keppra 1500 mg for partial nocturnal seizures and it has helped.
I just feel a little more anxious than ususal but then I started taking zoloft 75mg and it seemed to help. It's an ok drug. I was on tegretol preciously 600 mg for years and it helped but it did a number on my liver. That is why I was switched over to Keppra .
51 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-01-24 12:47:13
Answer/Reply:
hi my name is pauline i suffer from grand mal seizures and have done since i was nine years old i take epilim and epauntin. doctors tryed me on keppra a few years ago and was not keen on them myself ended back on my old tablets as the seizures where worse on these tablets. i now try and take alot off vitiams they do help a little but not with the pain.
46 year old Female – Source: iGuard United Kingdom
Posted: 2010-02-07 15:26:26
Question/Comment:
I take Keppra (1500)mg &zonegran200mg twice a day for my seizures and I sleep A LOT. But if I dont take that much I have seizures..... so, darned if you do, darned if you dont....Hopefully I can get a new doctor to look over what has been going on with me lately and maybe change something.
50 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-12-04 00:45:46
Answer/Reply:
So far, I've found that with the combination of Lamictal and Keppra staying awake is not a problem, Depakote and later Trileptal combined with Topamax left me tired and took away my ability to focus on tasks. Plus I developed cognition problems. Not any more!
Today I have good energy and am alert all of the time. My cognition snd memory problrms have pretty much disappeared as measured by my ability to do crosswords. Six months ago I couldn't come close to completing one.
63 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-01-15 20:52:49
Question/Comment:
I have been diagnosed with Brain Cancer of the Frontal Lobe, (Apr. 3,2009). I underwent brain surgery to remove a astrocytoma (stage 2-3). Just recently finished 6 weeks (5 days a week) of Radiaation Therapy! I also suffer from Depression and Anxiety! I added most of my meds to the "checker" list and I don't like what I found out! (also on a chemo drug called Temodar, and an anti-nausea drug too! What I didn't like was the yellow explanation mark next to a few of my drugs! Lexapro and Neurontin have an interaction! What the heck is going on here? (Why am I on Neurontin?)Don't these Shrinks know what mixes and what doesn't? Very confused and scared of ALL the meds! Can anybody provide any feedback? Also gained 25 lbs. since the surgery! Water retention to the point where my ankles and feet are swollen and leaking water! I'm a total mess! Going to Open Door Clinic on Thursday... lets see what this guy has to say!!! Since my Radiation Therapy is done for 6 weeks, can't go back to the Cancer Center untill the 29th of this month, to see my Radiation/Oncologist Doc! Also can't use my Shrink there either! I HATE this situation and thanks for the support of my very loving Husband and my fantastic family...I don't know how I would get throught this mess! Thanks to all for letting me "vent". God Bless you all- PRAY!- Because I'm praying for you!
55 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-07-15 01:56:32
Question/Comment:
I take KEPPRA 250mg AM & 500mg PM daily along with TOPAMAX 100mg, and KLONOPIN 1mg AM & PM for my granmal seizures. I was doing rreal good until this past month they substituted the KEPPRA to LEVETIRACETAM. I do not know the difference in the drugs but the name but I am having small seizures and panic attacks, I'm sleepy all the time and having bad dreams. My doctor says it will go away with time. I live alone out in the country and do not like how I feel so I stay stuck in my home at all time afraid I will fall apart while driving.
53 year old La. female
56 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-07-03 11:33:30
Answer/Reply:
Maybe the generic inreality does not 100% of the active ingredient as the Keppra since the FDA permits a pretty wide variance when they approve generics for sale. I'm told it can be as much as 20%. Also the delievery material used in the generic could be your problem.
The kind of side effects you are having should not be occurring if they didn't happen taking the original Keppra then you've got a problem. Since pharmacies will buy their generics from the cheapest supplier each time, you could get one made by a different supplier and have entirely different problems or none at all. Waiting out your problems implies that your generic will be from the same manufacturer each time. With generics you can't make that assumption and neither can he. I know, the changing of makers by the pharmacy happened to.
Also you may want to see and epilleptologist for a second opinion and recommendations.
63 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-01-15 21:16:10
Question/Comment:
I have partial complex seizures when my blood sugar drops--I am also hypoglycemic. My doctor "tweeked" my medication till he came up with an effective combination of Keppra and Dilantin. In my case, the brand name of Dilantin is medically necessary as I could never maintain a blood level within the therapeutic range when using its generic form. Till this year, levetiracetam (the generic form of Keppra) was not available. I had gone 4 years with no seizures on the Keppra and Dilantin. Early this year, our pharmacy switched from the Keppra to its generic form, levetiracetam. Within the week, I began having trouble with seizures. I talked with my neurologist and he increased the amount of levetiracetam to compensate for the probable lack of equivalent ingredients in the generic medication. It helped some, but I never achieved the seizure control I had on the smaller dose of Keppra. Consequently, I'm requesting my doctor re-write my prescription for the "pricey" Keppra, indicating the brand name is medically necessary. I was delighted with the price of the generic levetiracetam, but it's not worth the unexpected occurance of seizures after four years of success with the Keppra and Dilantin.
59 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-05-28 22:30:18
Answer/Reply:
I was taking the pricy Keppra, 1250 mg. a day and noticed a HUGE difference after being on Dilantin for years. I read an article about Dilatin causing lipoma's and now I wonder after all these years is that where mine came from. I have been on the generic Levetiracetam 1500 mg./day since it came out and haven't noticed a difference yet. I like it so much better than Dilantin. Seemed after taking it since I was 15 my body was not "reacting" to its benefits anymore. The increased dosage of the generic (from 1250 to 1500mg/day) seems to be working for me and hopefully will for you too.
58 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-05-30 16:37:32
Answer/Reply:
I have partial complex seizures as a result of a stroke in 2005.I had been taking a 1000 mg dose a day off Keppra until November 2008 when the dose had to be increased to 1500 mg per day to control the seizures.. Till this year, levetiracetam (the generic form of Keppra) was not available. I had gone 4 years with seizures being controlled on the Keppra. In February 2009,my pharmacy switched from the Keppra to its generic form, levetiracetam. Within the week, I began having trouble with seizures. I talked with my pharmacy and was told the generic was so new they did not have a monograph on it yet; but, they did not feel there was any difference in it and Keppra. I was told I could get my Keppra for that month instead of the generic I had already purchased BUT the insurance would not pay anything for it since I had a months dose of the generic. That had to be one of the worst months of my life. Seizure after seizure. Three weeks later I saw my doctor and they did blood work and my levetiracetam level was dangerously low. After about 10 days back on Keppra things got back to normal. Then the letter from the insurance company came last month indicating that in July 2009 Keppra would not even be in a tier and I would have to pay 33% of the cost of the drug. This should never have happened with the insurance when they didn't have enough time to get monographs and see if the generic worked. This is putting a lot of people in dangerous situations beyond their control. I also had my doctor re-write my prescription for the "pricey" Keppra, indicating the brand name is medically necessary even though I will have to pay 33% of the cost of the drug each month. This is not something I will use for a short time - this is the rest of my life due to Partial Complex Seizures. I was delighted with the price of the generic levetiracetam, but it's not worth the unexpected occurance of seizures after four years of success with the Keppra.
62 year old Female
Posted: 2009-05-28 22:30:18
63 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-06-06 12:19:25
Answer/Reply:
Good move! The variations allowed by the FDA are potentially enough to effect the efficacy of your medication. You could be under medicated substantially and if your generic is increased to comsate, when your pharmacy buys from a cheaper sourcem you could conceivable be somewhat over medicated.
I have grand mal seizures and in the past I have noticed a difference between the generics and the brand name when it come to seizure control. I don't know its the doseage itself or the delivery system used by the generic maker.
If I could afford it I'd switch to the brand name and get the extended release of both of drugs, Lamictal and Keppra.
63 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-01-15 21:23:51
You may post comments for the benefit of other patients or post questions other patients might be able to answer. Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Only your age and gender will be published with your comment, although your other user details will be securely recorded for verification purposes.
Comments may be either questions or answers to previously posted questions. Any iGuard.org user may post questions and reply.
Check Your Medications...
Do you want iGuard to check your medications for interactions, side-effects, safety alerts and recalls? Enter your current medications below, or cancel.
86
Patient Comments about
Keppra