Same brand of medication

[happy48]

Make sure you stick to the same brand. I've been on Keppra brand for approx 10 yrs. Felt great with no side effects. Recently the pharmacist couldn't get the Keppra brand so ended up with a different one. This resulted in having all the nasty side effects and more seizures. On checking further found that I was given a generic version. The foil container had Levetiracitam in bold on it but was covered with a label saying Keppra. The branded version has the name Keppra in bold on the foil container.

[Considine]

Hello happy48

I have read similar comments a number of times. When I had a nocturnal seizure that resulted in a posterior fracture of my shoulder requiring specialist surgery and pinning I wondered what could have triggered such a severe seizure after 18 months of being relatively seizure free.

I asked my pharmacy if I had been given a generic substitute for Keppra. It proved impossible for my pharmacy (one of a large national chain) to answer my question. I was assured that I had been given 500mg Levetiracetam (twice daily) but couldn't confirm that it was the Keppra brand. The packaging looked consistent.

My neurologist assured me that whatever the source the prescribed medication would contain the correct active ingredients. I pointed out that 'Epilepsy Action' believes that generics should not be used and that there were numerous members of the organisation who had adverse reaction to generic substitutes.

I persuaded my neurologist to write a letter to my doctor advising that only 'Keppra' was to be prescribed, I have a signed copy of that letter.

I suggest members discuss this issue with their neurologists to draw attention to the issue.

Having joined my local branch of Epilepsy Action I came to realise the importance of taking the twice daily dose at the same time each day.

Hope this helps.

[GillSans]

Surely they are not allowed to do that, "Keppra" is the registered trademark!

This amounts to fraud.

We have been keeping records for many years, when I had a week of bad attacks, we noticed that the packaging had changed, it only said "Levetiracetam", no mention of Keppra.

We showed the monthly graph of my seizures to the pharmacist, my husband was so livid!

Since then, "Keppra" is stated on the prescription, not had a horrible week like that since.

[EpilepsyAction1 Partner Epilepsy Action]

Hi Happy48

Epilepsy Action believes that you should get the same version of your epilepsy medicine, whenever possible, every time you pick up a prescription. But if there is a supply problem, there will be times when people do have to take a different version. You can check for supply problems on our Drug watch page.

epilepsy.org.uk/news/blogs/...

If you think you are getting side-effects from the different version of your epilepsy medicine you or your GP can report these issues to the MHRA. You can report side-effects yourself by completing a Yellow Card. These are available from your GP, pharmacist or the Yellow Card scheme:

Tel: [phone] (10.00am – 2.00pm Monday – Friday)

Website: yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk

Regards

Diane

Epilepsy Action Helpline Team