Medications like Keppra can come with a list of potential side effects. Here's a guide on understanding and managing these possible complications.
In the realm of antiepileptic drugs, Keppra (levetiracetam) is a common choice for managing seizures. However, like many medications, it comes with a list of potential side effects.
Common Side Effects of Keppra
Keppra can cause common side effects such as fatigue, weakness, dizziness, infections, sleepiness, and headache. Sleepiness, in particular, can impair your ability to drive or perform other dangerous activities safely.
Less Common Side Effects and Serious Risks
Both Keppra and its extended-release form, Keppra XR, share a similar side effect profile due to their common active ingredient, levetiracetam. Less common side effects include behavioral changes (aggression, irritability, anxiety), coordination problems, skin reactions, blood abnormalities, organ toxicity (liver, pancreas, kidney), and serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis and angioedema.
While Keppra XR is designed for once-daily dosing with a slower release, potentially improving tolerability in some patients, the overall spectrum of less common side effects remains similar to regular Keppra. Serious side effects include problems with balance or coordination, serious skin reactions, problems with blood cells, changes in mood, thoughts, or behavior, and severe allergic reaction.
Mental Health Considerations
If you have a mental health condition such as depression, anxiety, or schizophrenia, it's crucial to discuss with your doctor whether Keppra is safe for you. Changes in mood, thoughts, or behavior are common side effects of Keppra, particularly in children, and can include suicidal thoughts or behavior.
Special Considerations
It's essential to monitor for these symptoms and report them promptly to your doctor. Mild symptoms of an allergic reaction should be reported immediately, while severe symptoms require an immediate call to 911 or your local emergency number.
Keppra isn't known to cause any long-term side effects, but serious skin reactions such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome and drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS syndrome) can occur.
Use in Animals
The FDA has not approved Keppra for use in dogs, but veterinarians may sometimes prescribe it off-label to treat seizures in dogs. It's crucial not to give Keppra or any other medications to a pet without talking with your veterinarian.
In summary, while Keppra can cause a range of side effects, understanding them can help you manage your treatment effectively. Always discuss any concerns with your healthcare provider.
Read also:
- Inadequate supply of accessible housing overlooks London's disabled community
- Strange discovery in EU: Rabbits found with unusual appendages resembling tentacles on their heads
- Duration of a Travelling Blood Clot: Time Scale Explained
- Fainting versus Seizures: Overlaps, Distinctions, and Proper Responses
