Description

Keppra 500mg Tablet is an antiepileptic drug used to treat partial onset seizures, myoclonic seizures, and primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in adults and children.The key points about Keppra 500mg Tablet are:

• Indication: Keppra is indicated as monotherapy in the treatment of partial onset seizures in adults and adolescents from 16 years of age with newly diagnosed epilepsy. It is also indicated as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial onset seizures, myoclonic seizures, and primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in adults and children.
• Dosage: The recommended starting dose for adults and adolescents 12 years and older weighing 50 kg or more is 500 mg twice daily. The dose can be increased up to 1,500 mg twice daily based on clinical response and tolerability.
• Pediatric Use: For children under 50 kg and infants from 1 month of age, the dosage is weight-based and the oral solution formulation is preferred over tablets.
• Administration: Keppra 500mg tablets should be taken orally, swallowed whole with a sufficient quantity of liquid, and can be taken with or without food.
• Side Effects: Common side effects include somnolence, asthenia, infection, and dizziness. Discontinuation of Keppra should be gradual to minimize the risk of increased seizure frequency.
  

  Indication

  Keppra is indicated as monotherapy in the treatment of partial onset seizures in adults and adolescents from 16 years of age with newly diagnosed epilepsy. It is also indicated as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial onset seizures, myoclonic seizures, and primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in adults and children.

  Dosage

  The recommended starting dose for adults and adolescents 12 years and older weighing 50 kg or more is 500 mg twice daily. The dose can be increased up to 1,500 mg twice daily based on clinical response and tolerability.

  Pediatric Use

  For children under 50 kg and infants from 1 month of age, the dosage is weight-based and the oral solution formulation is preferred over tablets.

  Administration

  Keppra 500mg tablets should be taken orally, swallowed whole with a sufficient quantity of liquid, and can be taken with or without food.

  Side Effects

  Common side effects include somnolence, asthenia, infection, and dizziness. Discontinuation of Keppra should be gradual to minimize the risk of increased seizure frequency.

  Key Benefits of Keppra 500mg Tablet

  Effective Seizure Control

  • Keppra is indicated for the treatment of partial onset seizures, myoclonic seizures, and primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in adults and children.
  • It has been shown to reduce seizure frequency by about 50% in 20-40% of patients who take it.

  Flexible Dosing

  • The recommended starting dose for adults and adolescents 12 years and older weighing 50 kg or more is 500 mg twice daily.
  • The dose can be increased up to 1,500 mg twice daily based on clinical response and tolerability.
  • For children under 50 kg and infants from 1 month of age, the dosage is weight-based.

  Convenient Administration

  • Keppra 500mg tablets are taken orally, swallowed whole with liquid, and can be taken with or without food.
  • The tablet formulation is not suitable for infants and young children, in which case the oral solution is preferred.

  Key Ingredient of Keppra 500mg Tablet

  The active ingredient in Keppra 500mg Tablet is levetiracetam.Levetiracetam is an anticonvulsant or antiepileptic drug that works by reducing the abnormal excitation of brain cells, thereby helping to prevent seizures.The exact mechanism of action of levetiracetam is not fully understood, but it is believed to involve binding to a synaptic vesicle protein called SV2A, which may modulate neurotransmitter release in the brain.

  Mechanism of Action of Keppra (Levetiracetam)

  The exact mechanism of action by which levetiracetam, the active ingredient in Keppra, exerts its antiepileptic effect is not fully understood. However, several studies suggest the following:

  • Levetiracetam binds to a specific synaptic vesicle protein called SV2A in the brain. This binding may modulate neurotransmitter release and inhibit the spread of seizure activity.
  • In vitro and in vivo experiments indicate that levetiracetam does not alter basic cell characteristics and normal neurotransmission.
  • Levetiracetam induces seizure protection in a broad range of animal models of partial and primary generalized seizures without having a pro-convulsant effect.
  • The drug does not seem to influence the major targets of current antiepileptic drugs, such as voltage-gated sodium channels, T-type calcium channels, or GABA/benzodiazepine receptors.

  The chemical structure of levetiracetam, the active ingredient in Keppra 500mg Tablets, is:

  \begin{array}{c}\ce{CH3-CH2-C(=O)-NH-CH2-C6H5}\\\text{ S ethyl 2 oxo 1 pyrrolidineacetamide}\end{array}

  Some key features of the chemical structure:

  • It is a pyrrolidone derivative with an acetamide group attached to the 2-position of the pyrrolidone ring.
  • The acetamide nitrogen is substituted with an ethyl group.
  • The 1-position of the pyrrolidone ring is substituted with a phenyl group.
  • The stereocenter at the α-carbon has an (S)-configuration.

  The molecular formula is C8H14N2O2 and the molecular weight is 170.21 g/mol.

  Dosage of Keppra 500mg Tablet

  The recommended dosage of Keppra 500mg Tablet varies depending on the indication and patient age/weight:

  • For adults and adolescents 12 years and older weighing 50 kg or more, the initial dose is 500 mg twice daily. The dose can be increased up to 1,500 mg twice daily based on clinical response and tolerability.
  • For adolescents 12 to 17 years weighing below 50 kg and children from 1 month of age, the dosage is weight-based. The oral solution formulation is preferred over tablets for this population.
  • For infants aged 1 month to less than 6 months, the oral solution is the recommended formulation.
  • Discontinuation of Keppra should be gradual to minimize the risk of increased seizure frequency.

  Storage of Keppra 500mg Tablet

  • Keep Keppra Tablet out of children’s sight and reach.
  • Do not use Keppra Tablet after the expiry date.
  • Store at controlled room temperature [15-30°C (59-86°F)].

  Reviews of Keppra 500mg Tablet

  Keppra 500mg Tablet is generally well-tolerated, with common side effects including:

  • Somnolence (sleepiness)
  • Asthenia (lack of energy)
  • Infection
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue

  In clinical trials, Keppra was effective in reducing seizure frequency by about 50% in 20-40% of patients who took it.