Levetiracetam Stragen
Levetiracetam Stragen is a medicine used to treat epilepsy by helping to reduce seizures, especially when oral medication cannot be taken.
Form
infuusioneste, liuos
Strength
10 mg/ml
Active Ingredient
Levetiracetam
Manufacturer
Stragen Nordic A/S
How to Use
Dosage
Your doctor or nurse will decide your exact dose, usually between 1000 mg and 3000 mg daily for adults and teens over 50 kg, or 20-60 mg per kg daily for children and smaller teens.
Method
This medicine is given as an infusion into a vein by a doctor or nurse, twice a day (morning and evening) at roughly the same time each day. Each infusion should take 15 minutes.
Important
The maximum daily dose for adults and teens over 50 kg is 3000 mg. For children and smaller teens, the maximum is 60 mg per kg of body weight daily.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Inflammation of the nose and throat
- •Drowsiness, headache
- •Loss of appetite
- •Depression, anger or aggression, anxiety, trouble sleeping, nervousness, or irritability
- •Convulsions, balance problems, dizziness (feeling unsteady), lack of energy, shaking you can't control
- •Spinning sensation (vertigo)
- •Cough
- •Stomach pain, diarrhea, indigestion, vomiting, nausea
- •Rash
- •Weakness/tiredness
RARE
- •Low blood platelet count, low white blood cell count
- •Weight loss, weight gain
- •Thoughts of suicide or suicide attempts, mental health issues, unusual behavior, hallucinations, anger, confusion, panic attacks, mood swings, agitation
- •Memory loss, poor memory, clumsiness, tingling skin, difficulty concentrating
- •Double vision, blurred vision
- •Abnormal liver test results
- •Hair loss, rash, itching
- •Muscle weakness, muscle pain
- •Infection
- •Decrease in all types of blood cells
- •Severe allergic reactions (e.g., swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, widespread rash, fever)
- •Low sodium levels in blood
- •Delirium (severe confusion)
- •Brain disorder (encephalopathy)
- •Worsening or more frequent seizures
- •Uncontrolled muscle spasms, jerky movements, overactivity
- •Changes in heart rhythm (seen on ECG)
- •Inflammation of the pancreas
- •Liver failure, liver inflammation
- •Sudden worsening of kidney function
- •Severe skin reactions including blisters and skin peeling (e.g., Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis)
- •Muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis) with high levels of creatinine phosphokinase in blood (more common in Japanese patients)
- •Limping or difficulty walking
- •Combination of fever, stiff muscles, unstable blood pressure and heart rate, confusion, low consciousness (malignant neuroleptic syndrome)
- •Repetitive unwanted thoughts or feelings, or a need to repeat actions (OCD)
Important Warnings
- Do not use this medicine if you are allergic to levetiracetam or any other ingredients.
- Tell your doctor if you have kidney problems, as your dose may need to be changed.
- If you notice your child's growth is slowing down or puberty is developing unusually, contact your doctor.
- If you have thoughts of harming yourself, feel depressed, or notice changes in your mood or behavior, talk to your doctor right away.
- Inform your doctor if you or your family have a history of irregular heartbeat or other conditions that affect heart rhythm or salt balance.
Show 6 more warnings
- In rare cases, seizures may worsen or happen more often, especially when starting treatment or increasing the dose. Contact your doctor if this occurs.
- Seek immediate medical help if you feel weak, dizzy, lightheaded, or have trouble breathing, as these can be signs of a serious allergic reaction.
- Seek immediate medical help if you experience swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Get urgent medical help if you get a widespread rash, blisters, peeling skin, flu-like symptoms, or fever, as these can be signs of very serious skin reactions.
- Contact your doctor if you have symptoms like small amount of urine, tiredness, nausea, vomiting, confusion, or swelling in your legs and feet, as these can be signs of sudden kidney problems.
- If you or someone close to you notices severe changes in mood or behavior, confusion, sleepiness, memory loss, or uncontrolled movements, get medical help immediately as these could be signs of a brain disorder.
Use in Elderly Patients
Category C
Suitable for older adults, with specific precautions. Sedative. Reduce the dose already in mild renal impairment. Consider possibility of mental disorders. (updated 6.10.2025)