What is Keppra for and how do I take it?

Keppra is a medicine that contains levetiracetam, a substance that regulates the amount of a specific protein in the synapses between the neurons of the brain, which makes the electrical activity more stable, preventing the development of seizures. For this purpose, this medication is widely used in the treatment of people with epilepsy.

This remedy is produced by the laboratories of UCB Pharma and can be purchased as 100 mg / ml syrup or 250, 500 or 750 mg tablets.

Price and where to buy

Keppra can be purchased in conventional pharmacies after prescription, and its price varies according to dosage and form of presentation. In the case of tablets, the average price is about 40 R $ for 30 tablets of 250 mg and of 250 R $ for 30 tablets of 750 mg. In the case of syrup, the cost is approximately 100 R $ for 150 mL.

What is it for

Keppra is indicated for the treatment of seizures, especially in cases of:

Partial seizures with or without secondary generalization from the 1st month of age;
Myoclonic seizures after 12 years;
Primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures from the age of 12 years.

This drug is often used together with other seizure medicines to improve the outcome.

How to take

When used alone, Keppra should be swallowed at a starting dose of 250 mg twice daily, which may be increased to a dose of 500 mg twice daily for up to 2 weeks. This dose can continue to be increased 250 mg every two weeks, up to a maximum of 1500 mg per day.

If it is used with another medicine, Keppra should be started at a dose of 500 mg twice daily. If necessary the dose may be increased 500 mg every two or four weeks, up to 1500 mg twice daily.

Possible side effects

The most common side effects include weight loss, depression, anxiety, insomnia, nervousness, drowsiness, headache, dizziness, double vision, cough, abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, blurred vision, nausea and excessive tiredness.