Levetiracetam oral tablet dosage: A detailed guide

This article describes levetiracetam oral tablet’s dosages and strengths and gives details on how to take it. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for levetiracetam.

If you want to know more about levetiracetam oral tablet, see this overview article. It covers details about the drug’s uses and side effects, ways to save on cost, and more.

Levetiracetam oral tablet is a generic version of the brand-name drugs Keppra and Spritam. Levetiracetam also comes in oral extended-release, oral solution, and injectable forms. But those forms aren’t described in this article. To learn more about those forms, talk with your doctor.

Form and strengths of levetiracetam

Levetiracetam oral tablet comes as follows:

• Form: tablet that you swallow
• Strengths: 250 milligrams (mg), 500 mg, 750 mg, 1,000 mg

Dosage of levetiracetam

This article describes the recommended dosages for levetiracetam oral tablet. The drugmaker provides these dosages.

If your doctor prescribes this medication, you should follow the dosage they prescribe. Your doctor will determine the dosage that best meets your needs. Do not change your dosage of levetiracetam oral tablet without your doctor’s recommendation.

Usual recommended dosages of levetiracetam in adults

Levetiracetam is approved to treat certain seizures in adults, such as:

• focal onset seizures (also known as partial seizures), to be prescribed alone or together with other seizure drugs
• myoclonic seizures
• primary generalized tonic-clonic (PGTC) seizures

Usually, doctors start by prescribing a low dosage of levetiracetam oral tablet. Then, they’ll adjust it over time until the right dosage is reached. Ultimately, your doctor will prescribe the smallest dosage of levetiracetam oral tablet that gives the desired outcome.

The adult dosages of levetiracetam for all three conditions the drug treats are the same, as follows. The dosages are in milligrams (mg).

• Starting dosage: 500 mg twice per day
• Dosage increase: total daily dose increases by 1,000 mg every 2 weeks; continue taking doses twice per day
• Maintenance dosage: 1,500 mg twice per day

A maintenance dosage is what you’ll take for the remainder of treatment, usually after a starting dosage. The recommended maximum dosage is the same as the maintenance dosage.

Dosages of levetiracetam in children

Levetiracetam is approved to treat certain seizures in children, such as:

• focal onset seizures (also known as partial seizures) in children ages 1 month through 16 years and older, to be prescribed alone or together with other seizure drugs
• myoclonic seizures in children ages 12 years and older
• primary generalized tonic-clonic (PGTC) seizures in children ages 6 years through 16 years and older

The table below shows recommended dosages of levetiracetam oral tablet for children. These dosages are in milligrams (mg).

* Dosages to treat this condition in children of this age are based on body weight in kilograms (kg). (For reference, 1 kg is about 2.2 pounds [lb].) For these dosages, doctors prescribe the oral solution of levetiracetam.

Dosage adjustments for levetiracetam

Your doctor will prescribe a dosage of levetiracetam oral tablet based on several factors. These include:

• the specific condition being treated and how severe it is
• your age
• other health conditions you may have
• your kidney function
• other medications you may take

Missed dose of levetiracetam

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist right away if you realize you forgot to take a dose of levetiracetam oral tablet. They may advise you to take the missed dose. Or they may advise you to skip it and take your next dose as scheduled.

For tips on how to plan your doses of levetiracetam oral tablet and avoid missing a dose, read this article. You could also try:

• downloading a reminder app on your phone
• setting an alarm
• putting a note where you’ll see it, such as on your calendar, bathroom mirror, or bedside table

Frequently asked questions

Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about levetiracetam oral tablet and its dosage.

How will I know if my levetiracetam dose is too high?

Your doctor will monitor you for side effects while you take levetiracetam. They’ll also monitor you to learn how well the drug works.

If you experience side effects, talk with your doctor right away. Do not suddenly stop taking levetiracetam. Possible side effects include new or worsening depression, severe changes in mood, and changes in coordination.  

Read more about side effects of levetiracetam in this article. You can also talk with your doctor if you have concerns about your dosage.

Will I have withdrawal symptoms if I stop taking levetiracetam?

You should not suddenly stop taking levetiracetam. If you need to stop taking the drug, talk with your doctor first. They might slowly decrease your dosage.

If you stop taking levetiracetam suddenly, you may start to have seizures more often. Stopping the drug too fast also has a risk of status epilepticus. With this condition, seizures do not stop unless you get emergency medical treatment.

If you’re considering stopping levetiracetam treatment, talk with your doctor. They can tell you how to safely stop taking the drug.

Is levetiracetam taken long term?

Yes, doctors typically prescribe levetiracetam oral tablet as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that it’s safe and effective for your condition, you’ll likely take it long term.

If you have questions about how long you should take levetiracetam oral tablet, talk with your doctor.

How levetiracetam is taken

You’ll swallow levetiracetam oral tablet twice per day with or without food. Do not crush or chew the tablets.

Your doctor may advise that you take this medication around the same time each day. This helps keep a consistent amount of the drug in your body. And that can help the drug work more effectively.

If it’s hard for you to swallow tablets, view this article. It provides suggestions on how to swallow medications that come in pill form. If your tablet has a groove down the middle, you may be able to split the tablet in two. But it’s important to talk with your doctor or pharmacist first to be sure it’s safe to do so.

Also, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’re having difficulty taking your medication. They can offer recommendations about taking it.

Levetiracetam coupon

Visit this page to access Optum Perks coupons and get price estimates for levetiracetam when you use the coupons. These coupons can provide significant savings on your prescription costs. 

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.

Overdose of levetiracetam

It’s important that you do not take more levetiracetam oral tablet than your doctor prescribes. Doing so can lead to harmful effects.

Symptoms of levetiracetam overdose

Symptoms of an overdose can include:

• agitation
• drowsiness
• aggression
• sluggishness
• trouble breathing

In extreme cases or if untreated, overdose can lead to coma.

What to do if you take too much levetiracetam

If you think you’ve taken too much levetiracetam, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.

What to ask your doctor

This article describes the usual recommended dosages for levetiracetam oral tablet. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they’ll determine the dosage that’s best for you.

Do not change your dosage of levetiracetam oral tablet without your doctor’s recommendation. You should take levetiracetam oral tablet exactly as your doctor prescribes it. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about your treatment plan.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• Would levetiracetam’s extended-release tablet be better for me than levetiracetam oral tablet?
• If you need to lower my levetiracetam oral tablet dosage, how would you do that?
• Will a higher dosage of levetiracetam oral tablet manage my seizures better?
• If I start a new medication, will my levetiracetam oral tablet dosage need to change?

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.