Manufacturer: Ipca Laboratories Ltd
Salt Composition : Levetiracetam(750mg)
Epictal 750mg Tablet suppresses the abnormal electrical activity in the brain. You can take it with or without food but try to take it at the same time each day to get the most benefit. The dose will depend on your condition and how you respond to the medicine. Your doctor will advise the right dose for you. It is generally advised as a long-term treatment. You should continue taking it for as long as your doctor has told you to, even if you feel well. If you stop or miss doses your seizures could get worse.
Some common side effects of this medicine include headache, irritation, sleepiness, behavior changes, aggressive behavior, and decreased appetite. Side effects are more common during the first few weeks and usually lessen as your body gets used to the medicine. Most of these side effects do not need medical attention, but some of them can be serious. A small number of people being treated with this medicine have had thoughts of harming or killing themselves. Contact your doctor if your mood changes for the worse.
Before taking it, you should tell your doctor if you have kidney problems, depression, or suicidal thoughts and if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. Your doctor may suggest regular blood tests to monitor your kidney function while taking this medicine.
Epictal 750mg Tablet is an antiepileptic medication. It works by attaching to specific sites (SV2A) on the surfaces of nerve cells. This suppresses the abnormal activity of the nerve cells in the brain and prevents the spread of electrical signals that cause seizures.
Food does not affect the extent of absorption of levetiracetam but it decreases Cmax by 20% and delays Tmax by 1.5 hours. The pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam are linear over the dose range of 500 5000 mg. Steady state is achieved after 2 days of multiple twice-daily dosing.
Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them
Common side effects of Epictal
Sleepiness
Dizziness
Fatigue
Headache
Decreased appetite
Behavioral changes
Aggressive behavior
Irritation
Agitation
Nasal congestion (stuffy nose)
Infection
Convulsion
Nasopharyngitis (inflammation of the throat and nasal passages)
Nausea
Tremors
Vertigo
Lethargy
contraindicated in patients with a hypersensitivity to levetiracetam. Reactions have included anaphylaxis and angioedema [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)]. If you provide additional keywords, you may be able to browse through our database of Scientific Response Documents.
Epictal 750mg Tablet is safe to use during pregnancy. Most studies have shown low or no risk to the developing baby.
It is unsafe to consume alcohol with Epictal 750mg Tablet.
Epictal 750mg Tablet is probably safe to use during breastfeeding. Limited human data suggests that the drug does not represent any significant risk to the baby.
Monitor the baby for sleepiness and adequate weight gain.
Levetiracetam is indicated as an adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial onset seizures in epileptic patients who are one month of age and older.
Drug-Drug Interaction: This medicine may have interaction with antianxiety or antiepileptic medicines (carbamazepine, fluvoxamine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone), anti-HIV drugs (amprenavir, ritonavir), acidity medicine (cimetidine), drugs to treat chronic alcoholism (disulfiram), anti-tuberculosis drug (rifampicin), anti-Parkinson’s drug (levodopa), and asthma drugs (theophylline).
Drug-Food Interaction: LEVETIRACETAM may interact with a multivitamin, multi-mineral, or other herbal supplements. So, if you are using any of the OTC items, please tell your doctor.
Drug-Disease Interaction: Effectiveness of LEVETIRACETAM is affected in haemodialysis (when kidneys are not naturally able to perform a function), anaemia (low haemoglobin level). Also, obese people (with a BMI greater than 25) should consult a doctor before taking LEVETIRACETAM.
Do not chew, crush or break it. Epictal 750mg Tablet may be taken with or without food, but it is better to take it at a fixed time.
Store below 30°C
If you miss a dose of Epictal 750mg Tablet, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule. Do not double the dose.
Consult a doctor before taking any medicines.
Epictal 750mg Tablet should be taken regularly as directed by your doctor as missing doses can trigger seizures.
Make sure that you have sufficient amount of medicine present with you.
Some healthy tips to prevent seizures:
Take a healthy diet along with regular exercise.
Practice yoga every day.
Get enough sleep at nighttime.
Limit the use of screen time such as mobile/ laptop.
Take your medication on time.
It may cause sleepiness or drowsiness. If this happens to you, do not drive or use machinery.
Do not stop using Epictal 750mg Tablet without talking to your doctor, even if you feel better.
Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Epictal 750mg Tablet may be taken with or without food, but it is better to take it at a fixed time.
Q. Can the use of Epictal 750mg Tablet cause sleepiness?
Yes, Epictal 750mg Tablet can make you feel sleepy. Therefore, during the initial phase of treatment, avoid driving, operating machinery, working at heights, or participating in potentially dangerous activities until you know how this medicine affects you.
Q. Will the use of Epictal 750mg Tablet affect my fertility?
Epictal 750mg Tablet is not known to affect fertility in males or females. However, talk to your doctor if you are facing fertility issues during the treatment with this medicine.
Q. I have gained weight since I started taking Epictal 750mg Tablet. Is it because of Epictal 750mg Tablet? What should I do?
Weight gain is an uncommon side effect of Epictal 750mg Tablet. However, the response may vary from person to person. To prevent weight gain you should take a healthy balanced diet, avoid snacking, cut down on high-calorie food items, include more vegetables and fruits in your diet, and exercise regularly. If you still have issues with your weight, consult your doctor.
Q. How long does Epictal 750mg Tablet take to show its effect?
Epictal 750mg Tablet may take a few weeks to start working properly since the dose is increased slowly. Your seizures may continue until Epictal 750mg Tablet starts working completely.
