What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
-Kidney disease
-Suicidal thoughts, plans, or attempt by you or a family member
-An unusual or allergic reaction to levetiracetam, other medications, foods, dyes, or preservatives
-Pregnant or trying to get pregnant
-Breast-feeding
What may interact with this medication?
This medication may interact with the following:
-Carbamazepine
-Colesevelam
-Probenecid
-Sevelamer
This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.
What should I watch for while using this medication?
Visit your care team for a regular check on your progress. Wear a medical identification bracelet or chain to say you have epilepsy, and carry a card that lists all your medications.
This medication may cause serious skin reactions. They can happen weeks to months after starting the medication. Contact your care team right away if you notice fevers or flu-like symptoms with a rash. The rash may be red or purple and then turn into blisters or peeling of the skin. You may also notice a red rash with swelling of the face, lips, or lymph nodes in your neck or under your arms.
It is important to take this medication exactly as instructed by your care team. When first starting treatment, your dose may need to be adjusted. It may take weeks or months before your dose is stable. You should contact your care team if your seizures get worse or if you have any new types of seizures.
This medication may affect your coordination, reaction time, or judgment. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you. Sit up or stand slowly to reduce the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Drinking alcohol with this medication can increase the risk of these side effects.
This medication may cause thoughts of suicide or depression. This includes sudden changes in mood, behaviors, or thoughts. These changes can happen at any time but are more common in the beginning of treatment or after a change in dose. Call your care team right away if you experience these thoughts or worsening depression.
If you become pregnant while using this medication, you may enroll in the North American Antiepileptic Drug Pregnancy Registry by calling 1-888-233-2334. This registry collects information about the safety of antiepileptic medication use during pregnancy.