Levetiracetam (Keppra)

Pronunciation: lev-e-tye-RA-se-tam.

Generic name
levetiracetam
Drug class
Antiepileptic drug (AED) -- synaptic vesicle protein 2A (SV2A) binder
Form
Tablet (250/500/750/1000 mg), oral solution (100 mg/mL), IV concentrate (100 mg/mL)
Route
Oral (tablet, oral solution) or intravenous infusion
Legal status
Prescription-only

Availability and supply rules vary by country

Trade names by country: United States · United Kingdom · Canada · Australia · New Zealand

Australia: Keppra (5) · Full directory

What levetiracetam is and how it works

Levetiracetam is a prescription-only antiepileptic (anti-seizure) medicine. Its exact mechanism is not fully understood, but it binds to a protein involved in nerve-signal release (SV2A), which is thought to help reduce seizure activity. (1)

Take levetiracetam exactly as your prescriber directs, at the dose and schedule they set for you. Your dose is individually worked out based on your age, weight, kidney function, and the type of seizures being treated -- it is not a fixed dose for everyone.

Mechanism of action: how levetiracetam works

Levetiracetam's precise antiepileptic mechanism is unknown. It binds to synaptic vesicle protein 2A (SV2A) in the brain, thought to modulate neurotransmitter vesicle exocytosis and reduce neuronal hyperexcitability. (1)

What levetiracetam is used for

Partial-onset seizures

Used to help control partial-onset seizures in patients from 1 month of age, either alone or together with other seizure medicines depending on age and how newly diagnosed the epilepsy is. (1)

Myoclonic seizures in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy

Used together with other seizure medicines to help control myoclonic seizures in patients 12 years and older with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. (1)

Primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures

Used together with other seizure medicines to help control primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in idiopathic generalized epilepsy, in patients 6 years and older. (1)

Before taking levetiracetam

Do not take / not appropriate for

  • Do not take levetiracetam if you have had a serious allergic reaction (such as swelling of the face, lips, or throat, or difficulty breathing) to it in the past. (all countries) (1)

Tell your clinician about

  • Any history of depression, mood changes, or suicidal thoughts, since seizure medicines including levetiracetam can affect mood and behaviour.
  • Any kidney problems, which can change your dose.
  • Pregnancy, plans for pregnancy, or breastfeeding.
  • All other medicines you take, so interactions can be reviewed.
(1)

How to take levetiracetam

  • Take levetiracetam exactly as prescribed, at the same times each day, with or without food.
  • Swallow tablets whole; the oral solution can be measured with the device your pharmacy provides.
  • Continue taking levetiracetam for as long as your prescriber recommends, even if you feel well -- seizure control depends on steady, ongoing treatment.
  • If you and your prescriber ever decide together to stop or change this medicine, your prescriber will taper the dose down gradually over time rather than stopping it suddenly, to reduce the risk of a rebound increase in seizures.
(1)

Procedures and treatment changes

Tell the treating team before surgery, procedures, or any medicine change. Do not alter treatment without the responsible clinician. (1) (3) (2) (4) (5) (6)

Missed dose

Contact your prescriber or pharmacist for specific guidance if you miss a dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one unless your prescriber tells you to.

Overdose

Seek urgent medical attention if you or someone else may have taken too much levetiracetam, especially if there is severe drowsiness, breathing problems, or loss of consciousness. (1)

Side effects

Side effects and their urgency vary; report severe, persistent, or concerning symptoms.

Sleepiness (somnolence) and tiredness (fatigue) -- affects around 15% of adults.

What to notice: Sleepiness (somnolence) and tiredness (fatigue) -- affects around 15% of adults.

What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (1)

Dizziness.

What to notice: Dizziness.

What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (1)

Infections (such as colds).

What to notice: Infections (such as colds).

What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (1)

In children: irritability, aggression, nasal congestion, and decreased appetite.

What to notice: In children: irritability, aggression, nasal congestion, and decreased appetite.

What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (1)

Serious warnings

Behavioural or mood changes, including suicidal thoughts — high caution

Symptoms: New or worsening irritability, aggression, agitation, depression, unusual behaviour, or thoughts of self-harm or suicide.

Action: Tell your prescriber promptly about any behavioural or mood changes -- as a class, antiepileptic medicines carry an increased risk of suicidal thinking or behaviour, and monitoring by your care team is part of safe treatment. (1) (6)

Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) — emergency

Symptoms: Skin rash, fever, swollen lymph nodes, or swelling of the face, that may be accompanied by signs of organ involvement.

Action: Seek emergency medical help immediately -- DRESS can be life-threatening and requires urgent evaluation. (1)

Signs of a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis or angioedema) — emergency

Symptoms: Swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, difficulty breathing, hives, or a sudden drop in blood pressure -- this can occur after the first dose or at any point during treatment.

Action: Seek emergency medical help immediately. (1)

Serious skin reactions (Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis) — emergency

Symptoms: Widespread blistering or peeling skin, painful sores in the mouth or eyes, or a spreading rash.

Action: Seek emergency medical help immediately and stop taking levetiracetam only on your prescriber's or emergency clinician's direction. (1)

Increased seizures after a change or gap in treatment — high caution

Symptoms: Seizures returning or becoming more frequent than usual, or a prolonged seizure (status epilepticus).

Action: Never change your dose or gap your doses without your prescriber's guidance -- levetiracetam works best with steady, uninterrupted use, and any change in treatment should always be planned and tapered by your prescriber to avoid a rebound increase in seizures. If a prolonged seizure occurs, seek emergency help immediately. (1)

Interactions

  • Levetiracetam has a low potential for interactions -- it is largely not broken down by liver enzymes, so it is unlikely to significantly affect, or be affected by, most other medicines. (1)
  • No clinically significant interaction has been observed with phenytoin, valproate, hormonal contraceptives, digoxin, or warfarin in the source reviewed, but always tell your prescriber about all medicines you take. (1)

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, kidney/liver function, age

Pregnancy

Levetiracetam blood levels can fall during pregnancy, so your prescriber may monitor levels and adjust your dose. Uncontrolled seizures in pregnancy also carry risks, so treatment decisions should always be made together with your prescriber. A pregnancy exposure registry exists to collect outcome data. (1) (3) (2) (4) (5) (6)

Breastfeeding

Levetiracetam passes into breast milk. Discuss the benefits of breastfeeding against potential exposure to the infant with your prescriber. (1) (3) (2) (4) (5) (6)

Children

Approved for seizure indications from as young as 1 month (partial-onset seizures) up to older ages for other seizure types, depending on the specific indication and country. (1) (3) (2) (4) (5) (6)

Elderly

No specific dose adjustment based on age alone beyond the usual individualised approach, though kidney function (which often declines with age) is an important factor in dose-setting. (1) (3) (2) (4) (5) (6)

Hepatic_impairment

Levetiracetam is largely eliminated by the kidneys rather than the liver, but tell your prescriber about any liver problems. (1) (3) (2) (4) (5) (6)

Renal_impairment

Kidney function is a key factor in setting your dose -- tell your prescriber about any kidney problems, since your dose will be adjusted accordingly. (1) (3) (2) (4) (5) (6)

Monitoring

Before starting

  • Baseline kidney function
  • Review of mood/behavioural history
  • Review of other seizure medicines and overall treatment plan

During treatment

  • Monitoring for behavioural or mood changes, including any thoughts of self-harm.
  • Periodic assessment of seizure control.
  • Kidney function monitoring where relevant, since dose depends on it.
(1)

Storage

Store at room temperature, away from excess heat and moisture, following the specific instructions on your pharmacy label. Keep out of reach of children.

Study the drug class: Antiepileptics

Professional information

Clinician-facing context only, sourced from the current US FDA prescribing information; verify against the current full label before prescribing.

United States

Indication: Partial-onset seizures; myoclonic seizures in JME (adjunctive); primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures (adjunctive)

Dose summary: Individualised by age, weight, indication, and renal function. Titrated gradually, typically over approximately 2-week intervals, to a maintenance dose. Pediatric patients under 20 kg use weight-based oral solution dosing.

Renal context: Dose adjustment required based on creatinine clearance; determined by the prescriber. (1)

Mechanism of action

Hepatic guidance

Levetiracetam undergoes minimal hepatic metabolism; elimination is predominantly renal.

Overdose note

Overdose has been associated with somnolence, agitation, aggression, respiratory depression, and coma; management is supportive, and haemodialysis can remove levetiracetam. (1)

Frequently asked questions

Is levetiracetam (Keppra) available in the US, UK, Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand?

Yes, it is approved and available in all of these regions, both as the brand Keppra and as generic levetiracetam in most markets. (1) (3) (2) (4) (5) (6)

Can I stop taking levetiracetam on my own if I feel better?

No -- always talk to your prescriber before changing or stopping this medicine. Seizure medicines need to be tapered down gradually under clinical guidance, because stopping abruptly can increase the risk of seizures coming back more frequently or a prolonged seizure. (1)

Does levetiracetam affect mood or behaviour?

It can. Some people experience irritability, aggression, low mood, or in rare cases suicidal thoughts. Tell your prescriber promptly about any new or worsening mood or behaviour changes -- this is a recognised class effect of antiepileptic medicines and is actively monitored by your care team. (1) (6)

What is the mechanism of action of levetiracetam?

Levetiracetam's precise antiepileptic mechanism is unknown. It binds to synaptic vesicle protein 2A (SV2A) in the brain, thought to modulate neurotransmitter vesicle exocytosis and reduce neuronal hyperexcitability. (1)

What is the generic name of Levetiracetam (Keppra)?

The generic name is levetiracetam. (1)

What class of drug is levetiracetam?

Levetiracetam (Keppra) is classed as: Antiepileptic drug (AED) -- synaptic vesicle protein 2A (SV2A) binder. (1)

References

  1. KEPPRA (levetiracetam) tablets, oral solution -- full prescribing informationU.S. Food and Drug Administration / DailyMed (NIH), full prescribing information, UCB Inc. · United States · accessed 2026-07-29 · source 1
  2. Keppra 500 mg film-coated tablets -- Summary of Product Characteristicselectronic medicines compendium (emc), United Kingdom -- UCB Pharma Limited · United Kingdom · accessed 2026-07-29 · source 2
  3. Keppra -- European Public Assessment Report (EPAR)European Medicines Agency (EMA) · European Union · accessed 2026-07-29 · source 3
  4. KEPPRA (levetiracetam) Product MonographHealth Canada product monograph · Canada · accessed 2026-07-29 · source 4
  5. KEPPRA levetiracetam 500 mg tablet -- ARTG registrationTherapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Australia · Australia · accessed 2026-07-29 · source 5
  6. Keppra (Levetiracetam) film-coated tablets and oral solution -- New Zealand Data SheetMedsafe (New Zealand regulator) · New Zealand · accessed 2026-07-29 · source 6

Brand names by country

Single-ingredient levetiracetam names are shown separately by country. Product availability, strengths, and supply rules can change; combination products are not included here.

Priority countries

United States

  • Keppra500 mg, 100 mg/mL, 1000 mg, 750 mg, 250 mg · ucb, inc.
  • Spritam750 mg, 1000 mg, 250 mg, 500 mg · aprecia pharmaceuticals, llc
  • ELEPSIA XR 1000 MG1000 mg, 1500 mg · tripoint therapeutics, llc
  • Roweepra250 mg · owp pharmaceuticals, inc.

United Kingdom

  • Keppra (2)MHRA licensed emc smpc confirmed · 250 mg, 500 mg, 1000 mg tablets, 100 mg/mL oral solution, 100 mg/mL concentrate for infusion · UCB Pharma Limited

Canada

  • KEPPRA

Australia

  • Keppra (5)TGA ARTG registered 2006-09-07 confirmed · 250 mg, 500 mg, 750 mg, 1000 mg tablets, 100 mg/mL oral solution · UCB Australia Pty Ltd

New Zealand

  • Keppra (6)Medsafe approved confirmed · not fully enumerated in the source reviewed · UCB
View brands in additional countries.

European Union

Keppra (3)

This page provides general reference information about levetiracetam (Keppra) and is not a substitute for advice from the prescriber managing your treatment. All dosing and treatment decisions should be made with your prescriber.

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