Common questions about levetiracetam

Seizures are bursts of electrical activity in the brain that temporarily affect how it works. Levetiracetam slows these electrical signals down to stop seizures.

Levetiracetam also works differently from most epilepsy medicines. The exact way this works is not fully known.

It usually takes a few weeks for levetiracetam to work fully. This is because your dose needs to be increased slowly. You may still have seizures during this time.

Levetiracetam is a relatively new medicine.

At the moment, there's no evidence to show it has lasting harmful effects if you take it for many months or years.

If you're taking levetiracetam for epilepsy, stopping it suddenly can cause seizures.

Coming off levetiracetam should be done very slowly and might take a few months.

However, if you do get a serious side effect, such as a severe skin condition, your doctor may tell you to stop taking levetiracetam straight away, even if you have epilepsy.

There are lots of medicines for treating epilepsy, but they work in different ways.

The choice will depend on the type of seizures you have. Your doctor will discuss the best medicine for you.

Brivaracetam is very similar to levetiracetam. It works in the same way, but can be given at different doses.

If you decide to try brivaracetam instead, your doctor will explain how to switch medicines safely.

Other medicines to treat epilepsy include:

• carbamazepine
• clobazam
• ethosuximide
• gabapentin
• lamotrigine
• phenytoin
• pregabalin
• sodium valproate
• topiramate

It's not possible to say that one works better than the others. It varies from person to person, and depends on the type of seizures and how often you have them.

Your doctor will advise you on the medicine that's best for you. They'll look at your age, sex, the medicines you're already taking and any other health problems you have.

It's usual to try to treat epilepsy using a single medicine. If this medicine is not working well or you're getting side effects, your doctor will generally try you on a different one.

If a single medicine is not preventing your seizures, your doctor may recommend taking 2 or more epilepsy medicines at the same time.

Levetiracetam works for quite a few different types of epilepsy.

If it's giving you side effects or you're worried it's not suitable for you, ask your doctor or specialist to recommend a different medicine.

If you're switching medicines, it's very important to follow your doctor's advice.

If you want to switch, you'll usually start taking the new medicine at a low dose and slowly build up the dose while you're still taking levetiracetam.

It's not always important to stay on the same brand of levetiracetam, but ask your doctor.

If your epilepsy has been hard to control in the past and the brand of levetiracetam you're now taking is working well for you, your doctor may recommend you stay on the same one.

Talk to your doctor if you have been asked to switch to a different brand of levetiracetam and are worried about that.

Keppra is a brand of levetiracetam. Levetiracetam can sometimes cause changes in your mood or behaviour. You may feel angry, agitated or depressed.

This side effect does not affect everyone, but it's important to tell your doctor if you have any changes in your mood, feel depressed or have thoughts of harming yourself.

Some people take vitamin B6 (also known as pyridoxine) alongside levetiracetam to reduce the chances of mood changes. A few studies have reported that vitamin B6 might be helpful, but we do not have enough information to be sure.

If you want to take any vitamins alongside your prescribed medicines, it's important to speak to your pharmacist or doctor, who can advise what you can take.

If you have epilepsy, you're entitled to free prescriptions for all of your medicines, not just your epilepsy ones.

To claim your free prescriptions, you'll need a medical exemption certificate. The application form for the medical exemption certificate is called FP92A. You can get this from your doctor's surgery.

You'll need to fill in the form, then your doctor will sign it and send it off.

Levetiracetam does not affect any type of contraception, including the combined pill, progestogen-only pill and emergency contraception.

However, if levetiracetam makes you sick (vomit), your contraceptive pills may not protect you from pregnancy. Check the pill packet to find out what to do.

Find out more:

• What to do if you're sick or have diarrhoea when taking the combined pill
• What to do if you're sick or have diarrhoea when taking the progestogen-only pill

You may feel sleepy, tired or dizzy when you first start taking levetiracetam or when the dose is increased. If this happens to you, do not drive or ride a bike or operate machinery until you feel more alert.

Levetiracetam can also affect your vision. Do not drive if your vision is affected.

If you have epilepsy, you're not allowed to drive until you have had no seizures for 1 year.

You're also not allowed to drive for 6 months if you change your epilepsy medicine.

It's an offence to drive a car if your ability to drive safely is affected. It's your responsibility to decide if it's safe to drive. If you're in any doubt, do not drive.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you're unsure whether it's safe for you to drive while taking levetiracetam. GOV.UK has more information on the law on drugs and driving.

Yes, you can drink alcohol with levetiracetam, but it may make you feel sleepy or tired, and alcohol and hangovers can bring on seizures in some people with epilepsy.

During the first few days of taking levetiracetam, it's best to stop drinking alcohol until you see how the medicine affects you.

If you do drink, try not to have more than the recommended guidelines of up to 14 units of alcohol a week. A standard glass of wine (175ml) is 2 units. A pint of lager or beer is usually 2 to 3 units of alcohol.

No, you can eat and drink normally while taking levetiracetam.