Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) summary
The full CMI on the next page has more details. If you are worried about using this medicine, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.
1. Why am I using Levecetam?
Levecetam contains the active ingredient Levetiracetam. Levecetam is used to in epileptic patients aged 4 years and older, initially as add-on therapy, in the treatment of partial onset seizures with or without secondary generalisation.
Monotherapy in the treatment of partial onset seizures, with or without secondary generalisation, in patients from 16 years of age with newly diagnosed epilepsy
For more information, see Section 1. Why am I using Levecetam? in the full CMI.
2. What should I know before I use Levecetam?
Do not use if you have ever had an allergic reaction to levecetam or any of the ingredients listed at the end of the CMI.
Talk to your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, take any other medicines, or are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding.
For more information, see Section 2. What should I know before I use Levecetam? in the full CMI.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Some medicines may interfere with Levecetam and affect how it works.
A list of these medicines is in Section 3. What if I am taking other medicines? in the full CMI.
4. How do I use Levecetam?
- The film coated tablets must be taken orally, swallowed with liquid and may be taken with or without food.
- The daily dose is administered in two equally divided doses.
More instructions can be found in Section 4. How do I use Levecetam? in the full CMI.
5. What should I know while using Levecetam?
| Things you should do |
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| Things you should not do |
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| Driving or using machines |
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| Drinking alcohol |
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| Looking after your medicine |
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For more information, see Section 5. What should I know while using Levecetam? in the full CMI.
6. Are there any side effects?
Most common side effects are: dizziness, feeling weak, headache, common cold, upset stomach, diarrhoea, feeling tired, drowsy or sleepy.
For more information, including what to do if you have any side effects, see Section 6. Are there any side effects? in the full CMI.
LEVECETAM (LEVETIRACETAM) TABLETS
Active ingredient(s): Levetiracetam
Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)
This leaflet provides important information about using Levecetam. You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information or if you have any concerns or questions about using Levecetam.
Where to find information in this leaflet:
1. Why am I using Levecetam?
2. What should I know before I use Levecetam?
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
4. How do I use Levecetam?
5. What should I know while using Levecetam?
6. Are there any side effects?
7. Product details
1. Why am I using Levecetam?
Levecetam contains the active ingredient Levetiracetam
Levecetam is an anti-epileptic medicine.
Levecetam is used to control epilepsy.
Epilepsy is a condition where you have repeated seizures. There are many different types of seizures, ranging from mild to severe.
This medicine belongs to a group of medicines called antiepileptics. These medicines are thought to work by controlling brain chemicals which send signals to nerves so that seizures do not happen.
levecetam may be used alone, or in combination with other medicines, to treat your condition.
Your doctor may have prescribed this medicine in addition to your current therapy.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you.
There is no evidence that this medicine is addictive.
This medicine is available only with a doctor’s prescription.
The safety and effectiveness of levecetam has not been established in patients less than 4 years of age.
2. What should I know before I use Levecetam?
Warnings
Do not use Levecetam if:
- any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:
- shortness of breath
- wheezing or difficulty breathing
- swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
- rash, itching or hives on the skin.
Do not take this medicine after the expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack.
Do not take this medicine if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering or if the tablets do not look quite right.
If this medicine has expired or is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal.
If you are not sure whether you should start taking this medicine, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have allergies to:
- any other medicines, especially barbiturates (such as phenobarbitone) or any other antiepileptic medicines (such as carbamazepine, lamotrigine or valproate)
- any other substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes.
Tell your doctor if you have or have had any medical conditions, especially the following:
- kidney problems
- liver problems.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
Levecetam may affect your developing baby if you take it during pregnancy. However, it is very important to control your seizures while you are pregnant. Your doctor will outline and weigh up all the risks and benefits of taking Levecetam during pregnancy to help decide whether or not you should take it.
Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
The active ingredient in Levecetam passes into breast milk and there is a possibility that your baby may be affected. Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of using Levecetam if you are breastfeeding.
If you have not told your doctor or pharmacist about any of the above, tell them before you start taking Levecetam.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Levecetam does not interact with the oral contraceptive pill.
However, you may be given Levecetam together with other antiepileptic medicines that do interact and may affect the effectiveness of your contraceptive. Your doctor may advise you to use an additional method of contraception if you take Levecetam with other antiepileptic medicines.
4. How do I use Levecetam?
How much to take / use
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor carefully. They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
Your doctor will tell you how much Levecetam you will need to take each day. This may depend on your age, your condition and whether or not you are taking any other medicines.
For patients 12 years of age and older, the dosage is generally between 1000 mg and 3000 mg each day, taken in two doses.
For children 4 to 11 years of age the doctor will calculate the dosage based on the child’s weight and tell you how much to give. The medicine is to be given twice daily.
Your doctor may start you on a low dose of Levecetam first.
Your doctor will slowly increase the amount of medicine until you are taking enough to control your epilepsy and you are not having seizures.
If you do not understand the instructions on the pack, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
How to take it
Swallow the tablets whole with a glass of water.
When to take Levecetam
- Take Levecetam twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. Take it at about the same time each day.
- Taking your medicine at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you remember when to take it.
- It does not matter if you take this medicine before or after food.
If you forget to use Levecetam
Contact your doctor if you have missed one or more doses. Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed.
This may increase the chance of you getting an unwanted side effect.
If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.
How long to take it
Most antiepileptic medicines take time to work, so do not be discouraged if you do not feel better straight away.
Continue taking your medicine for as long as your doctor tells you to.
This medicine helps control your condition, but does not cure it. Therefore you must take your medicine every day, even if you feel well.
Do not stop taking Levecetam, or change the dosage, without checking with your doctor. Do not let yourself run out of medicine over the weekend or on holidays.
- Stopping Levecetam suddenly may cause unwanted side effects or make your condition worse. Your doctor will slowly reduce your dose before you can stop taking it completely.
If you use too much Levecetam
If you think that you have used too much Levecetam, you may need urgent medical attention.
You should immediately:
- phone the Poisons Information Centre
(by calling 13 11 26), or - contact your doctor, or
- go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.
You should do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
5. What should I know while using Levecetam?
Things you should do
Tell your doctor immediately if you notice an increase in seizures.
Tell your doctor immediately if you have symptoms of depression or thoughts of harming yourself.
Tell any other doctors, dentists, and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking this medicine.
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, tell your doctor, dentist or pharmacist that you are taking Levecetam.
Before you have any surgery or emergency treatment, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking Levecetam.
Tell your doctor if you feel Levecetam is not helping your condition.
Your doctor may need to change your medicine.
Tell your doctor if, for any reason, you have not taken this medicine exactly as prescribed.
Otherwise, your doctor may change your treatment unnecessarily.
If you become pregnant while taking this medicine, tell your doctor.
Be sure to keep all of your doctor’s appointments so that your progress can be checked.
Your doctor will check your progress and may want to take some tests from time to time. This helps to prevent unwanted side effects.
Things you must not do
Do not give Levecetam to anyone else, even if their symptoms seem similar to yours or they have the same condition as you.
Do not take Levecetam to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how this medicine affects you. Children should be careful doing things like riding bicycles or climbing trees.
As with other antiepileptic medicines, Levecetam may cause dizziness or drowsiness in some people. This is more frequent at the beginning of treatment or after an increase in the dose.
If you are feeling dizzy or drowsy do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous. Children should not ride a bike, climb trees or do anything else that could be dangerous if they are feeling dizzy or drowsy.
Be careful when drinking alcohol while taking this medicine.
Combining Levecetam and alcohol can make you more drowsy. Your doctor may suggest you avoid alcohol while you are being treated with Levecetam.
6. Are there any side effects?
All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.
See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any further questions about side effects.
Less serious side effects
| Less serious side effects | What to do |
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Speak to your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects and they worry you. |
Serious side effects
| Serious side effects | What to do |
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Tell your doctor as soon as possible that may require medical attention |
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Call your doctor straight away, or go straight to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital if you notice any of these serious side effects. |
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.
Reporting side effects
After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop taking any of your medicines.
7. Product details
This medicine is only available with a doctor’s prescription.
What Levecetam contains
| Active ingredient (main ingredient) |
levetiracetam |
| Other ingredients (inactive ingredients) |
All strengths of tablet also contain the following excipients: maize starch, povidone, purified talc, colloidal anhydrous silica, sodium starch glycollate type A, silicon dioxide and magnesium stearate. 250 mg tablet coating: hypromellose, titanium dioxide, macrogol 400, indigo carmine CI73015. 500 mg tablet coating: hypromellose, titanium dioxide, macrogol 400 and iron oxide yellow CI77492. 1000 mg tablet coating: hypromellose, macrogol 400 and titanium dioxide |
Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.
What Levecetam looks like
Levecetam 250 levetiracetam 250 mg are blue coloured, oval shaped, film-coated tablets debossed with breakline separating ‘250’ and ‘MG’ on one side and ‘1014’ on other side.(AUST R 159035)
Levecetam 500 levetiracetam 500 mg are yellow coloured, oval shaped, film-coated tablets debossed with breakline separating ‘500’ and ‘MG’ on one side and ‘1015’ on other side.(AUST R 159036)
Levecetam 1000 levetiracetam 1000 mg are white to off white, oval shaped, film-coated tablets debossed with breakline separating ‘1000’ and ‘MG’ on one side and ‘1017’ on other side.(AUST R: 159037)
Who distributes Levecetam
Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories (Australia) Pty Ltd
Suite 3.03, Level 3, 390 St Kilda Road
MELBOURNE, VIC, AUSTRALIA
Phone: 1800 733 397
This leaflet was prepared in February 2023.
Published by MIMS March 2023