💊 Levetiracetam Tablet 250 mg
📌 1. Prescription / Indication:
Levetiracetam 250 mg is a prescription-only antiepileptic drug used to treat:
- Partial-onset seizures (with or without secondary generalization)
- Myoclonic seizures (in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy)
- Primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures
Often used as monotherapy or adjunct therapy in adults and children over 4 years (age may vary by guidelines).
📄 2. Description:
- Form: Oral tablet
- Strength: 250 mg
- Route: Oral (by mouth)
- Appearance: Usually white or off-white, oval or round tablet (varies by brand)
🔬 3. Nature / Class:
- Therapeutic class: Anticonvulsant / Antiepileptic
- Drug class: Pyrrolidone derivative
- Mechanism:
- Modulates synaptic neurotransmitter release via binding to the synaptic vesicle protein SV2A
- Reduces neuronal excitability and seizure activity
🌟 4. Advantages:
- Effective in multiple seizure types
- Minimal drug interactions – suitable in polytherapy
- Well tolerated in most patients
- No significant liver metabolism, so safer in patients with liver dysfunction
📦 5. Common Packaging:
| Pack Type | Details |
|---|---|
| Strip | 10 tablets per strip |
| Box | 10 or 15 strips per box |
| Blister pack | Common in hospital and retail supply |
🧊 6. Storage:
- Store below 30°C (86°F)
- Protect from light and moisture
- Keep in original blister pack until use
- Keep out of reach of children
👩⚕️ 7. Patient Advice:
- Take at the same time daily, with or without food
- Do not skip or stop suddenly – may cause withdrawal seizures
- Report symptoms like:
- Mood changes, irritability, depression, or suicidal thoughts
- Drowsiness or fatigue
- Avoid alcohol – may worsen CNS effects
- Safe in renal impairment but dose adjustment may be needed
🎯 8. Purpose / Uses:
- Long-term control of epileptic seizures
- Used in:
- Monotherapy for new-onset epilepsy
- Adjunct to other antiepileptic drugs
- Prevention of seizure recurrence
⚠️ 9. Precautions / Warnings:
- May cause behavioral disturbances, especially in children
- Use cautiously in patients with psychiatric history
- Adjust dose in renal impairment
- Not recommended in pregnancy unless clearly needed (consult physician)