What is Keppra XR?
Keppra XR is a prescription medicine taken by mouth that is used to treat partial-onset seizures in people 12 years of age and older.
It is not known if Keppra XR is safe or effective in people under 12 years of age.
Before taking your medicine, make sure you have received the correct medicine. Compare the name above with the name on your bottle and the appearance of your medicine with the description of Keppra XR provided below. Tell your pharmacist immediately if you think you have been given the wrong medicine.
What is the most important information I should know about Keppra XR?
Like other antiepileptic drugs, Keppra XR may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people, about 1 in 500 people taking it.
Call a healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you:
- thoughts about suicide or dying
- attempts to commit suicide
- new or worse depression
- new or worse anxiety
- feeling agitated or restless
- panic attacks
- trouble sleeping (insomnia)
- new or worse irritability
- acting aggressive, being angry, or violent
- acting on dangerous impulses
- an extreme increase in activity and talking (mania)
- other unusual changes in behavior or mood
Do not stop Keppra XR without first talking to a healthcare provider.
- Stopping Keppra XR suddenly can cause serious problems. Stopping a seizure medicine suddenly can cause seizures that will not stop (status epilepticus).
- Suicidal thoughts or actions can be caused by things other than medicines. If you have suicidal thoughts or actions, your healthcare provider may check for other causes.
How can I watch for early symptoms of suicidal thoughts and actions?
- Pay attention to any changes, especially sudden changes, in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings.
- Keep all follow-up visits with your healthcare provider as scheduled.
Call your healthcare provider between visits as needed, especially if you are worried about symptoms.
Who should not take Keppra XR?
Do not take Keppra XR if you are allergic to levetiracetam.
What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking Keppra XR?
Before taking Keppra XR, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- have or have had depression, mood problems or suicidal thoughts or behavior.
- have kidney problems.
- are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. It is not known if Keppra XR will harm your unborn baby. You and your healthcare provider will have to decide if you should take Keppra XR while you are pregnant. If you become pregnant while taking Keppra XR, talk to your healthcare provider about registering with the North American Antiepileptic Drug Pregnancy Registry. You can enroll in this registry by calling 1-888-233-2334 or go to http://www.aedpregnancyregistry.org. The purpose of this registry is to collect information about the safety of Keppra XR and other antiepileptic medicine during pregnancy.
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Keppra XR can pass into your breast milk. It is not known if the Keppra XR that passes into your breast milk can harm your baby. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby while you receive Keppra.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Do not start a new medicine without first talking with your healthcare provider.
Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your healthcare provider and pharmacist each time you get a new medicine.
How should I take Keppra XR?
- Take Keppra XR exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it.
- Your healthcare provider will tell you how much Keppra XR to take and when to take it. KEPPRA XR is usually taken 1 time each day.
- Your healthcare provider may change your dose. Do not change your dose without talking to your healthcare provider.
- Take Keppra XR with or without food.
- Swallow the tablets whole. Do not chew, break, or crush tablets.
- The inactive part of Keppra XR tablets may not dissolve after all the medicine has been released in your body. You may sometimes notice something in your bowel movement that looks like swollen pieces of the original tablet. This is normal.
- If you take too much Keppra XR, call your local Poison Control Center or go to the nearest emergency room right away.
What should I avoid while taking Keppra XR?
Do not drive, operate machinery or do other dangerous activities until you know how Keppra XR affects you. Keppra XR may make you dizzy or sleepy.
What are the possible side effects of Keppra XR?
Keppra XR can cause serious side effects including:
Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms:
- mood and behavior changes such as aggression, agitation, anger, anxiety, apathy, mood swings, depression, hostility, and irritability. A few people may get psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are really not there), delusions (false or strange thoughts or beliefs) and unusual behavior.
- extreme sleepiness, tiredness, and weakness.
- allergic reactions such as swelling of the face, lips, eyes, tongue, and throat, trouble swallowing or breathing, and hives.
- a skin rash. Serious skin rashes can happen after you start taking Keppra XR. There is no way to tell if a mild rash will become a serious reaction.
- problems with muscle coordination (problems walking and moving).
The most common side effects seen in people who take Keppra XR include:
- sleepiness
- irritability
Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.
These are not all the possible side effects of Keppra XR. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Keppra XR Images
General information about the safe and effective use of Keppra XR
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide. Do not use Keppra XR for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give Keppra XR to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them. You can ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider for information about Keppra XR that is written for health professionals.
How should I store Keppra XR?
- Store Keppra XR at room temperature, between 59°F to 86°F (15°C to 30°C) away from heat and light.
- Keep Keppra XR and all medicines out of the reach of children.
What are the ingredients in Keppra XR?
Active ingredient: levetiracetam
Inactive ingredients: colloidal anhydrous silica, hypromellose, magnesium stearate, polyethylene glycol 6000, polyvinyl alcohol-partially hydrolyzed, titanium dioxide (E171), Macrogol/PEG3350, and talc. The imprinting ink contains shellac, FD&C Red #40, n-butyl alcohol, propylene glycol, titanium dioxide, ethanol, and methanol. Keppra XR does not contain lactose or gluten.
For more information, go to www.keppraxr.com or call 1- (844) 599-CARE (2273).
