From the Research
Oral Keppra (levetiracetam) typically begins to take effect within 1-2 hours after ingestion, with peak blood levels occurring around 1 hour after taking the medication, as shown in a study published in 2008 1. However, the full therapeutic effect for seizure control may take days to weeks to develop. Most patients will start to see some benefit within the first few days of treatment, but it can take up to 2 weeks to reach optimal seizure protection. Keppra is usually started at a lower dose (often 500 mg twice daily for adults) and then gradually increased to minimize side effects, which can include drowsiness, dizziness, and irritability. The medication works by binding to a specific protein in the brain called SV2A, which helps regulate neurotransmitter release and reduces abnormal electrical activity that causes seizures. Some key points to consider when taking Keppra include:
- It's essential to take Keppra consistently at the same times each day to maintain stable blood levels and not to stop taking it suddenly, as this could trigger seizures.
- If side effects occur, patients should contact their healthcare provider rather than discontinuing the medication on their own.
- Levetiracetam has a novel structure and unique mechanisms of action, involving neuronal binding to synaptic vesicle protein 2A, inhibiting calcium release from intraneuronal stores, opposing the activity of negative modulators of GABA- and glycin-gated currents, and inhibiting excessive synchronized activity between neurons, as described in a study published in 2011 2.
- The efficacy of oral immediate-release levetiracetam in controlling seizures has been established in numerous randomized, double-blind, controlled, multicentre trials in patients with epilepsy, with adjunctive levetiracetam reducing the frequency of seizures in pediatric and adult patients with refractory partial-onset seizures to a significantly greater extent than placebo, as reported in a study published in 2011 3. It's also worth noting that levetiracetam is associated with rapid and complete absorption, high oral bioavailability, minimal metabolism, and primarily renal elimination, which makes its clinical use simple and straightforward, as discussed in a study published in 2004 4. Overall, the pharmacokinetic characteristics of levetiracetam are highly favorable, and it is not associated with cognitive impairment or drug-induced weight gain, but has been associated with behavioral adverse effects in some patients, as mentioned in a study published in 2011 2.