Levetiracetam: uses, dosing, side effects & brands
Levetiracetam is a medicine sold in the U.S. under 6 brand and generic names, for partial epilepsies, tonic-clonic epilepsy and juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.
Key facts
- Treats (across its forms)
- Partial Epilepsies, Tonic-Clonic Epilepsy and Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy
- Available as
- Injectable · Solution · Tablet · Tablet, extended release
- Sold as
- 6 products — Keppra, Keppra XR and Levetiracetam in Sodium Chloride, and others
- Prescription?
- Prescription only
- Generic available?
- Yes
- Half-life
- about 7 hours (the label states 7 ± 1 hour in adults)
- What the pharmacy pays
- about $2 for a 30-count supply — not your price
How Levetiracetam in Sodium Chloride is dosed
From the FDA label for Levetiracetam in Sodium Chloride (application ANDA209705). Other levetiracetam products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
For intravenous infusion only ( 2.1 ) Do not dilute prior to its use ( 2.1 ) Administer dose-specific container intravenously over 15-minutes ( 2.1 ) Initial Exposure to Levetiracetam Partial-Onset Seizures: Initial dose is 500 mg twice daily. Increase by 500 mg twice daily every 2 weeks to a maximum recommended dose of 1,500 mg twice daily (2.2). Myoclonic Seizures in Patients with Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy: Initial dose is 500 mg twice daily. Increase by 500 mg twice daily every 2 weeks to the recommended dose of 1,500 mg twice daily (2.2). Primary Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures: Initial dose is 500 mg twice daily. Increase by 500 mg twice daily every 2 weeks to the recommended dose of 1,500 mg twice daily (2.2). Switching from or to oral Levetiracetam: The total daily dosage/frequency of levetiracetam injection should be equivalent to those of oral levetiracetam (2.3, 2.4). Renal Impairment: Dose adjustment necessary based on creatinine clearance ( 2.5 ). 2.1 General Information – Administration Levetiracetam in Sodium Chloride Injection is for intravenous infusion only. It is available in the following concentrations: three single-dose 100 mL fill containers, each containing a different total dosage of levetiracetam (500 mg [5 mg/mL], 1,000 mg [10 mg/mL], or 1,500 mg [15 mg/mL]). A single-dose container should be administered intravenously over a 15-minute IV infusion…
Everything below is the FDA label for Levetiracetam in Sodium Chloride (injectable). Levetiracetam is also sold as solution, tablet and tablet, extended release, and those are different medicines to take — follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
Levetiracetam in Sodium Chloride side effects
The following serious adverse reactions are discussed in more details in other sections of labeling: Psychiatric Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] Somnolence and Fatigue [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Anaphylaxis and Angioedema [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] Serious Dermatological Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS)/Multiorgan Hypersensitivity [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ] Coordination Difficulties [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6) ] Withdrawal Seizures [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7) ] Hematologic Abnormalities [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8) ] Seizure Control During Pregnancy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.9) ] Most common adverse reactions (incidence in levetiracetam-treated patients is greater than or equal to 5% more than in placebo-treated patients) include: somnolence, asthenia, infection, and dizziness. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact B. Braun Medical Inc . at 1-800-854-6851 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. The adverse…
Who shouldn’t take Levetiracetam in Sodium Chloride
Levetiracetam in Sodium Chloride Injection is contraindicated in patients with a hypersensitivity to levetiracetam. Reactions have included anaphylaxis and angioedema [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ]. Known hypersensitivity to levetiracetam; angioedema and anaphylaxis have occurred. ( 4 )
Levetiracetam in Sodium Chloride drug interactions
In vitro data on metabolic interactions indicate that levetiracetam is unlikely to produce, or be subject to, pharmacokinetic interactions. Levetiracetam and its major metabolite, at concentrations well above C max levels achieved within the therapeutic dose range, are neither inhibitors of nor high affinity substrates for human liver cytochrome P450 isoforms, epoxide hydrolase or UDP-glucuronidation enzymes. In addition, levetiracetam does not affect the in vitro glucuronidation of valproic acid. Potential pharmacokinetic interactions of or with levetiracetam were assessed in clinical pharmacokinetic studies (phenytoin, valproate, warfarin, digoxin, oral contraceptive, probenecid) and through pharmacokinetic screening in the placebo-controlled clinical studies in epilepsy patients. Phenytoin Levetiracetam (3,000 mg daily) had no effect on the pharmacokinetic disposition of phenytoin in patients with refractory epilepsy. Pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam were also not affected by phenytoin. Valproate Levetiracetam (1,500 mg twice daily) did not alter the pharmacokinetics of valproate in healthy volunteers. Valproate 500 mg twice daily did not modify the rate or extent of levetiracetam absorption or its plasma clearance or urinary excretion. There also was no effect on exposure to and the excretion of the primary metabolite, ucb L057. Other Antiepileptic Drugs Potential drug interactions between levetiracetam and other AEDs (carbamazepine, gabapentin, lamotrigine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone and valproate) were also assessed by evaluating the serum concentrations of levetiracetam and these AEDs during placebo-controlled clinical studies. These data indicate that levetiracetam does not influence the plasma concentration of other AEDs and that these AEDs do not influence the pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam. Oral Contraceptives Levetiracetam (500 mg twice daily) did not influence the pharmacokinetics of an oral contraceptive containing 0.03 mg ethinyl estradiol and 0.15 mg levonorgestrel, or of the luteinizing hormone and progesterone levels, indicating that impairment of contraceptive efficacy is unlikely. Coadministration of this oral contraceptive did not influence the pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam. Digoxin Levetiracetam (1,000 mg twice daily) did not influence the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (ECG) of digoxin given as a 0.25 mg dose every day. Coadministration of digoxin did not influence the pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam. Warfarin Levetiracetam (1,000 mg twice daily) did not influence the pharmacokinetics of R and S warfarin. Prothrombin time was not affected by levetiracetam. Coadministration of warfarin did not affect the pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam. Probenecid Probenecid, a renal tubular secretion blocking agent, administered at a dose of 500 mg four times a day, did not change the pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam 1,000 mg twice daily. C ss max of the metabolite, ucb L057, was approximately doubled in the presence of probenecid while the fraction of drug excreted unchanged in the urine remained the same. Renal clearance of ucb L057 in the presence of probenecid decreased 60%, probably related to competitive inhibition of tubular secretion of ucb L057. The effect of levetiracetam on probenecid was not studied.
Every levetiracetam product we track (6)
Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.
| # | Drug | Rating | Type | Form | Generic? | Pharmacy pays | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 70/100 | Prescription | Injectable | Generic | $2 | View → | |
| 2 | 70/100 | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $2 | View → | |
| 3 | 68/100 | Prescription | Injectable | Generic | $2 | View → | |
| 4 | 66/100 | Prescription | Injectable | Generic | $2 | View → | |
| 5 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $2 | View → | |
| 6 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $2 | View → |
What levetiracetam pills look like
Imprint codes, colour and shape from the FDA’s labelling data. Match the imprint on your pill — or search any imprint.
Levetiracetam recalls
From the FDA Enforcement database. A recall covers specific lots — not the drug as a whole.
Can you crush or split levetiracetam?
At least one levetiracetamproduct is labelled to be swallowed whole — crushing an extended-release tablet releases the whole day’s dose at once. Which applies depends on the form you were given.
What each levetiracetam label says about crushing, splitting and chewingHow long levetiracetam keeps
No levetiracetam label we read sets a separate limit for after opening, but they do specify how it must be stored — and the stability behind any date assumes those conditions.
Does levetiracetam expire? The in-use limits and storage rules from its labelsLevetiracetam and breastfeeding
From LactMed, the US National Library of Medicine’s Drugs and Lactation Database — quoted, not rewritten.
Full LactMed record for levetiracetam: levels in milk, effects in breastfed infants, and the drugs it would consider insteadLevels of levetiracetam in milk can be high in some women and can occasionally cause sedation and other adverse effects in their breastfed infants. If levetiracetam is required by the mother, it is not necessarily a reason to discontinue breastfeeding. However, the infant should be monitored for drowsiness, adequate weight gain, and developmental milestones, especially in younger, exclusively breastfed infants and when using combinations of anticonvulsants. Maternal serum level monitoring and dosage adjustment is advisable in the early postpartum period if the drug was taken throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding. Some evidence suggests that levetiracetam might reduce the maternal breastmilk supply in some women.
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, record revised November 15, 2025. LactMed states its information is not a substitute for professional judgement.
What people report to the FDA about levetiracetam
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collects reports from patients and clinicians. It holds 80,456 reports naming levetiracetam, and the FDA flagged 88% of those reports as serious. The effects reported most often — leaving out reports about overdose, misuse or the condition being treated, which dominate the raw list for common medicines:
- seizure9,253 reports
- maternal exposure during pregnancy3,178 reports
- epilepsy2,935 reports
- fatigue2,593 reports
- foetal exposure during pregnancy2,584 reports
- somnolence2,201 reports
- status epilepticus2,158 reports
- generalised tonic-clonic seizure2,103 reports
Read these as a signal, not a rate. A report does not mean levetiracetam caused the effect — anyone can file one, and many describe people taking several medicines for several conditions. Crucially there is no denominator: FAERS does not record how many people took the drug, so these counts cannot be turned into “X% of patients” — a bigger number often just means a more widely used or more talked-about drug. Duplicates exist, and publicity drives reporting. For what is actually established, read the FDA label section above.
Source: openFDA drug/event (FAERS), retrieved August 25, 2026.
How long levetiracetam stays in your system
The elimination half-life of levetiracetam is about 7 hours (the label states 7 ± 1 hour in adults). This is the plasma elimination half-life of levetiracetam itself in adults with normal organ function; the label says it is unaffected by dose or repeated dosing. Levetiracetam is not a prodrug and has no active metabolite that outlasts it — its major metabolite, ucb L057 (24% of the dose), is described by the label as inactive in animal seizure models. The drug is cleared mainly by the kidneys (66% excreted unchanged), so kidney function drives how long it lasts: in older adults (61-88 years, creatinine clearance 30-74 mL/min) total body clearance fell 38% and the half-life was 2.5 hours longer than in healthy adults. In renal impairment the label reports reduced clearance rather than a half-life number — down 40% in mild (CLcr 50-80 mL/min), 50% in moderate (30-50 mL/min), 60% in severe (<30 mL/min), and 70% in anuric end-stage renal disease; roughly 50% of the body's levetiracetam is removed by a standard 4-hour hemodialysis session. Liver impairment matters little: pharmacokinetics were unchanged in mild-to-moderate (Child-Pugh A-B) impairment, and in severe (Child-Pugh C) total body clearance was 50% of normal, mostly explained by reduced renal clearance. In children the half-life is shorter (about 5-5.3 hours). Not a drug-test detection window and not dosing guidance.
Levetiracetam tablet, film coated — FDA label, Section 12.3 Pharmacokinetics (DailyMed) ↗Half-life is how long the body takes to clear half a dose. It is not the same as how long a drug test can detect it, and it varies with age, kidney and liver function.
Related calculators
Frequently asked questions
What is Levetiracetam in Sodium Chloride?
Levetiracetam in Sodium Chloride Injection is an antiepileptic drug available as a clear, colorless, sterile solution for intravenous administration.
How long does levetiracetam stay in your system?
The elimination half-life of levetiracetam is about 7 hours (the label states 7 ± 1 hour in adults) — that is how long the body takes to clear half of a dose. This is the plasma elimination half-life of levetiracetam itself in adults with normal organ function; the label says it is unaffected by dose or repeated dosing. Levetiracetam is not a prodrug and has no active metabolite that outlasts it — its major metabolite, ucb L057 (24% of the dose), is described by the label as inactive in animal seizure models. The drug is cleared mainly by the kidneys (66% excreted unchanged), so kidney function drives how long it lasts: in older adults (61-88 years, creatinine clearance 30-74 mL/min) total body clearance fell 38% and the half-life was 2.5 hours longer than in healthy adults. In renal impairment the label reports reduced clearance rather than a half-life number — down 40% in mild (CLcr 50-80 mL/min), 50% in moderate (30-50 mL/min), 60% in severe (<30 mL/min), and 70% in anuric end-stage renal disease; roughly 50% of the body's levetiracetam is removed by a standard 4-hour hemodialysis session. Liver impairment matters little: pharmacokinetics were unchanged in mild-to-moderate (Child-Pugh A-B) impairment, and in severe (Child-Pugh C) total body clearance was 50% of normal, mostly explained by reduced renal clearance. In children the half-life is shorter (about 5-5.3 hours). Not a drug-test detection window and not dosing guidance. Half-life is not the same as how long a drug test can detect the drug, and it varies with age, kidney and liver function.
Can you take levetiracetam with other medicines?
It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run levetiracetam against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
What brand names is levetiracetam sold under?
We track 6 levetiracetam-containing products in the U.S.: Keppra, Keppra XR, Levetiracetam in Sodium Chloride, Levetiracetam, Elepsia XR and Spritam. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.
What forms does levetiracetam come in?
Across the brands we track, levetiracetam is currently marketed as injectable, solution, tablet and tablet, extended release, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.
Is there a generic levetiracetam?
Yes. Our catalog lists 2 generic levetiracetam products alongside the brand versions. A generic has the same active ingredient and must meet the FDA's bioequivalence standard; it usually costs less. Ask your pharmacist which one your plan covers.
Has levetiracetam been recalled?
The FDA's Enforcement database lists 1 recall record whose product description mentions levetiracetam. The most recent: Levetiracetam 0.75% in Sodium Chloride Injection 1 (Mar 13, 2025). A recall applies to specific lots, not to the drug as a whole — check the record for the affected lot numbers.
What are the most common side effects of levetiracetam?
Sleepiness and low energy lead the list. In adult trials in partial-onset seizures, the FDA label reports somnolence in 15% of patients versus 8% on placebo, asthenia (weakness or fatigue) in 15% versus 9%, infection in 13% versus 8%, and dizziness in 9% versus 4%. Trouble with coordination, including ataxia or abnormal gait, occurred in 3.4% versus 1.6%. (Figures are for the immediate-release oral tablets and solution, sold as Keppra and generics.)
Does levetiracetam have a boxed warning?
No. There is no boxed warning on the levetiracetam label. That does not make it a mild drug: it carries eleven Warnings and Precautions, including behavior and mood changes, suicidal thoughts, anaphylaxis and angioedema, Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis, and DRESS. The one contraindication is hypersensitivity to levetiracetam itself; reported reactions have included anaphylaxis and angioedema, so anyone who has had such a reaction must not take it again.
Is it true levetiracetam causes anger and mood changes?
Yes, and the label quantifies it. Behavioral abnormalities such as aggression, agitation, anger, and anxiety occurred in 13% of treated adults versus 6% on placebo, and in 38% of treated children versus 19% on placebo. Psychotic symptoms occurred in 1% of adults versus 0.2% on placebo, and in 2% of children aged 4 to 16 versus 2% on placebo. Separately, antiepileptic drugs as a class about double the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior, 0.43% versus 0.24% on placebo. Tell your prescriber about new irritability, aggression, depression, or suicidal thoughts rather than waiting for the next appointment.
Can I stop levetiracetam if the side effects bother me?
Not abruptly. The label warns that stopping levetiracetam suddenly can increase seizure frequency and trigger status epilepticus, so any discontinuation should be a gradual taper planned with your prescriber. If the problem is a rash, that is different: stop and get medical attention, because serious skin reactions including Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis have been reported with a median onset of 14 to 17 days after starting.
What levetiracetam side effects need urgent medical attention?
Trouble breathing, swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, throat, or feet, hives, or a drop in blood pressure, all of which can signal anaphylaxis or angioedema, which can happen after the very first dose or at any point in treatment. Any rash, because of the SJS/TEN risk. Fever with rash, swollen glands, or signs of organ involvement, which can be DRESS and can be fatal. Also report frequent infections, unusual bruising, or bleeding: the label notes decreases in white cells, neutrophils, and red cells, with reported cases of agranulocytosis and thrombocytopenia.
Cite this page
- APA
- pharmaranks. (2026, July 24). Levetiracetam: uses, dosing, side effects & brands. https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/levetiracetam
- MLA
- “Levetiracetam: uses, dosing, side effects & brands.” pharmaranks, 24 July 2026, https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/levetiracetam.
We summarise public FDA and NIH sources — for a clinical claim, cite the primary source we link to as well.
Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.
Read the full FDA label for levetiracetam on DailyMed (NIH) ↗.