Keppra

by on July 21, 2012
Brand Names:Keppra, Keppra XR
Generic name:levetiracetam
Pregnancy Category:C
Half-life:6 - 8 hours

What is Keppra?

Keppra is a brand name version of the medication levetiracetam and is an anti-epileptic drug, or anticonvulsant, used in treating partial onset seizures, myoclonic seizures, and primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in children and adults. Keppra is used as an additional treatment to the primary mode of treating epileptic disorders. Levetiracetam can be used by children as young as 1 month old and by adults.

Dosage and frequencies vary by age and condition to be treated.

Keppra Uses

Keppra is used as an anticonvulsant to treat different epileptic disorders. It is used to treat partial onset seizures in children and adults, I month or older and have epilepsy. It is also used to treat myoclonic seizures in children and adults 12 years or older and have juvenile myoclonic epilepsy as well as treating primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in children and adults who are over 6 years old and have idiopathic generalized epilepsy.

keppraThe primary mode of medication administration for all ages and conditions, is to begin therapy with a lesser than recommended amount and to increase the dosage every 2 weeks; this allows for a gradual increase in the medication to determine the effects on the body. The daily recommended medication amount is reached after a period of time has passed since the individual took the first dose of medication. It is important that Keppra be stopped gradually to avoid the risk of increasing seizures if the medication is abruptly stopped.

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