changed brands of Levetiracetam- side effects?

[LottieLou96]

Hello everyone.

i don't often message on this forum but things looked promised on my first month of levetiracetam 1000mg daily. After frustratingly running out at the pharmacy and days 2 without and some seizures. I started on levetiracetam from a different brand. I had been on zentiva,that worked well, my mood was actually better much better as it gets affected by seizures. But the current brand Crescent, has made me sick,tremulous and feeling very down,I'm not sure if it's not working to control my seizures or if they are side effects from this brand.

I am aware that it is category for 3 switching brands usually is okay, but wondered if anyone else has had similar issues.

Take ccare,

lottie

[RR25]

Every month I get different brands of my levetiracetam, just whatever my pharmacy has in stock. No two months are the same. I don't notice any difference in how I feel generally. It would just be the size of the meds would be different. It may not be med related??.. because you could end up getting different company supplies every month as the time goes on.....

[LottieLou96 in reply to RR25]

Thanks for the reply 😊

Yeah i don't know why it is how it is, my seizures don't feel well controlled rn. Maybe the break in meds rather than the change, but who knows. Will see what my epi nurse thinks maybe.

[HopefullyHelpful]

Hi, I think talking to your epilepsy nurse is the best thing to do. Two days without medication and then restarting could be giving you the symptoms you describe and different brands can also affect some people, but not all. My son's Neurologist has written a letter to GP 'requesting' that he be prescribed a specific brand of lev because he has anecdotal evidence that it is tolerated better than others. We have come up against resistance from a couple of pharmacies though until showing them the letter. I have found a helpful pharmacy now that has put it on record to get the same brand.

Also, ask your epilepsy nurse about starting high dose vitamin B6. This is something else the Neurologist advised in my son's case.

I hope you get the answers you need from your nurse.