Spritam

Generic name: Levetiracetam
Dosage form: tablets for oral suspension
Drug class: Pyrrolidine anticonvulsants

Usage of Spritam

Spritam is a prescription medicine taken by mouth that used to treat partial-onset seizures in people 4 years of age and older weighing more than 20 kg (44 pounds). Spritam is a prescription medicine taken by mouth that is used with other medicines to treat:

  • myoclonic seizures in people 12 years of age and older with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.
  • primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in people 6 years of age and older with certain types of generalized epilepsy.

    • It is not known if this medicine is safe or effective in children under:

  • 4 years of age to treat partial-onset seizures
  • 12 years of age to treat myoclonic seizures
  • 6 years of age to treat primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures

    • Spritam is not recommended for children that weigh 20 kg (44 pounds) or less.

    Before taking your medicine, make sure you have received the correct medicine. Compare the name above with the name on your package. Tell your pharmacist immediately if you think you have been given the wrong medicine.

    Spritam side effects

    See Important information.

    Spritam can cause serious side effects. 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 Spritam. There is no way to tell if a mild rash will become a serious reaction. Call your healthcare provider right away if you get a rash while taking Spritam.
  • problems with muscle coordination (problems walking and moving).

    • The most common side effects seen in adults include:

  • sleepiness
  • infection
  • weakness
  • dizziness

    • The most common side effects seen in children include the side effects above and:

  • tiredness
  • decreased appetite
  • irritability
  • acting aggressive
  • nasal congestion

    • 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. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

    Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Aprecia Pharmaceuticals, LLC at 1-844-882-7732 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

    Before taking Spritam

    Do not take Spritam if you are allergic to levetiracetam.

    Relate drugs

    How to use Spritam

    Usual Adult and Pediatric Dosage for Partial-Onset Seizures (monotherapy or adjunctive therapy)

    - Adults/pediatric patients 4 years and older weighing over 40 kg: 500 mg twice daily; increase as needed/tolerated by 500 mg twice daily every 2 weeks to a maximum recommended dose of 1500 mg twice daily - Pediatric patients 4 years and older weighing 20 to 40 kg: 250 mg twice daily; increase by 250 mg twice daily every two weeks to a maximum of 750 mg twice daily   - Use: treatment of partial-onset seizures in patients 4 years of age and older weighing more than 20 kg 

    Usual Adult and Pediatric Dosage for Myoclonic Seizures

    - Adults/pediatric patients 12 years and older:  500 mg twice daily; increase by 500 mg twice daily every 2 weeks to recommended dose of 1500 mg twice daily

    - Use: treatment of myoclonic seizures in patients 12 years of age and older with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy

    Usual Adult and Pediatric Dosage for Primary Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures

    - Adults/pediatric patients 6 years and older weighing over 40 kg: 500 mg twice daily; increase as needed/tolerated by 500 mg twice daily every 2 weeks to a maximum recommended dose of 1500 mg twice daily - Pediatric patients 6 years and older weighing 20 to 40 kg: 250 mg twice daily; increase by 250 mg twice daily every 2 weeks to a maximum of 750 mg twice daily - Use: treatment of primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in patients 6 years of age and older with idiopathic generalized epilepsy 

    Warnings

    Like other antiepileptic drugs, Spritam 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
  • new or worse depression
  • feeling agitated or restless
  • trouble sleeping (insomnia)
  • acting aggressive, being angry, or violent
  • an extreme increase in activity or talking (mania)
  • attempts to commit suicide
  • new or worse anxiety
  • panic attacks
  • new or worse irritability
  • acting on dangerous impulses
  • other unusual changes in behavior or mood

    • Do not stop this medicine without first talking to a healthcare provider.

  • Stopping Spritam 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.

    • What other drugs will affect Spritam

    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.

    Disclaimer

    Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

    The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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