Can Keppra Cause Dizziness?
Yes, Keppra (levetiracetam) can cause dizziness, which is one of the most commonly reported adverse effects of this medication, occurring in approximately 9% of adult patients taking the drug compared to 4% on placebo. 1
Frequency and Clinical Significance
Dizziness occurs in 9% of adult patients with partial onset seizures treated with levetiracetam versus 4% of placebo-treated patients, making it one of the four most common adverse effects alongside somnolence, asthenia, and infection 1
In pediatric patients (ages 4-16 years), dizziness occurs in 7% of levetiracetam-treated patients compared to 2% on placebo 1
The dizziness is typically mild to moderate in intensity and most commonly occurs during the first 4 weeks of treatment 1
Additional Context from Clinical Studies
A systematic review of 3,347 patients exposed to levetiracetam found that dizziness was among the predominant adverse effects, occurring most frequently during the first month of treatment 2
In dose-response studies, dizziness was reported in patients receiving doses ranging from 1000-4000 mg/day, though the frequency increased with higher doses 3, 4
The adverse effect profile shows that dizziness occurs alongside other central nervous system effects such as somnolence and asthenia, suggesting a shared mechanism related to CNS depression 5
Practical Implications
Patients should be advised not to drive or operate machinery until they have gained sufficient experience on levetiracetam to determine whether it adversely affects their performance 1
The dizziness typically does not require drug discontinuation in most patients, as discontinuation rates due to adverse events were only 6.9-10.9% for all levetiracetam doses combined (including all adverse effects, not just dizziness) 5
No dose adjustment is specifically recommended for dizziness alone, though clinicians should monitor patients during the initial treatment period when this adverse effect is most likely to occur 1