Product information:

Manufacturer:  Crescent

 Strength: 250mg

Quantity: 120 tablets

 £ 23.11 ( 0.39p per tablets)

 Strength: 500mg

Quantity: 120 tablets

 £ 92.45 (0.77p per tablets)

 Buy Now

The
medicine you have been given for your dog or cat is called levetiracetam. It
may have a trade name such as Desitrend® or Keppra®, but often will just be
called levetiracetam (or levetiracetam or S-etiracetam).

Direction for Use:

What is Levetiracetam?

Levetiracetum
is a relatively new drug and belongs to a group of medicines called
anti-epileptics. These drugs act in the brain to prevent fits.

Why has my pet been prescribed levetiracetam?

 Levetiracetam is used in cats and dogs to help
prevent fits (seizures) when the patient has not responded to other more
commonly used drugs. It can be used alone or in combination with other
anti-epileptic drugs. How should I store levetiracetam? This medicine does not
require special storage conditions. For safety, all medicines should be kept
out of the reach and sight of children.

How do I give Levetiracetam tablets or oral solution to my pet?

Try
to disguise the levetiracetam in a small quantity of strongly flavoured food
that your pet likes. Alternatively, it can be placed carefully on the back of
the pet’s tongue and their mouth held closed until the entire dose has been
swallowed.

How long will my pet need to take levetiracetam?

 Your vet will advise you on the length of time
for which you will need to give this medicine. This may vary between patients
and may be for the rest of their life.

What should I do if I run out of tablets or solution?

 Try not to run out. Make sure you order more
tablets or solution from your vet if your supply is getting low. If you do run
out, contact your own vet for further advice and restart the course as soon as

possible.
Levetiracetam should not be stopped suddenly; the dose needs to be gradually
reduced whilst another anti-epileptic drug is introduced to avoid fits
recurring or becoming more frequent.

What should I do if I miss a dose?

 If you do miss a dose, give your pet the dose
that they should have had straight away. Make sure the next dose is separated
by at least 6 hours before reverting to normal dosing time. DO NOT give double
doses to make up for missed doses.

What should I do if my pet is accidentally given too many doses?

Contact
your vet immediately if your pet is given an overdose of levetiracetam.
Information regarding overdose of this drug is limited in veterinary patients.
However, overdose is known to cause drowsiness in people.

Can my pet take Levetiracetam if I am already giving them other drugs?

 Tell your vet if you are giving your pet any
other medications, even if you think they already know. This includes herbal or
off-the-shelf remedies from a pet shop or pharmacy.

What are the possible side effects of levetiracetam for my pet?

There
is limited information about the side effects of levetiracetam in dogs and
cats, although drowsiness has been seen. Other side effects reported include
ataxia (wobbliness) in dogs, and reduced appetite, lethargy and hypersalivation
(increased drooling) in cats. In people, side effects include weakness,
dizziness and abnormalities of white blood cells. If your pet shows any unusual
symptoms whilst taking this medication, please contact your vet.

What should I do if my pet is unwell while taking levetiracetam?

If
your pet is unwell white receiving medication, contact your vet as soon as
possible for advice. Levetiracetam should not be stopped suddenly as fits may
recur or become more frequent.

What should I do if a person accidentally takes this drug?

If
a person accidentally takes your pet’s medicine, the person should be taken to
the local hospital immediately. Take this leaflet and any remaining tablets or
solution plus their container (even if it is empty) with you.

Whom do I contact if I want to know more?

 If you have any questions about this drug, or
concerns about your pet’s health, contact your own vet. They will know your
pet’s medical history and will know about levetiracetam.

How to store Levetiracetam Tablets (250mg, 500mg) 

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date, which is stated on the carton after the letters EXP.

The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.

The Prescribing Cascade

This medicine is
authorized for use in human patients and is used by vets under the ‘prescribing
cascade’. The medicine is not authorized by the Veterinary Medicines
Directorate (VMD), an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs (Defra), for use in dogs/cats/pets. Your vet can explain the
‘prescribing cascade’ in further detail to you and also explain why they are
prescribing this drug for your pet. You will be asked to sign a consent form
stating that you understand the reasons that the drug is being prescribed and
its possible complications, before the treatment is issued. © British Small Animal
Veterinary Association 2020. While the editors and the BSAVA have made every
effort in preparing this information leaflet, the contents and any statements
are made in good faith purely for general guidance and cannot be regarded as
substitute for professional advice. The publishers, contributors and the BSAVA
do not take responsibility for the information provided on this leaflet and
hence do not accept any liability for loss or expense incurred (by you or
persons that you disseminate the materials to) as a result of relying on
content in this leaflet. To this end, you are advised to consult your vet and
seek their professional advice before taking any steps set out in this leaflet.
If you are a vet, you must not rely on the contents in this leaflet without
independently verifying the correctness and veracity of the contents. BSAVA is
not responsible for any alterations made to this document from the version
supplied.