Levetiracetam
Levetiracetam.JPG

Levetiracetam

CLINICAL USE

Anti-epileptic agent

DOSE IN NORMAL RENAL FUNCTION

250 mg – 1.5 g twice daily

PHARMACOKINETICS

  • Molecular weight                           :170.2
  • %Protein binding                           :
  • <10           :
  • %Excreted unchanged in urine     : 66 (95% drug + metabolite)
  • Volume of distribution (L/kg)       :0.5–0.7
  • half-life – normal/ESRD (hrs)      :6–8/25

    DOSE IN RENAL IMPAIRMENT

    GFR (mL/MIN)

    50–79 500–1000 mg twice daily130–49 250–750 mg twice daily1<30 250–500 mg twice daily1

    DOSE IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING RENAL REPLACEMENT THERAPIES

  • CAPD                :Likely dialysability. 750 mg loading dose then 500–1000 mg daily
  • HD                     :Dialysed. 750 mg loading dose then 500–1000 mg once daily
  • HDF/high flux   :Dialysed. 750 mg loading dose then 500–1000 mg once daily
  • CAV/VVHD      :Likely dialysability. Dose as in GFR=30–49 mL/min

    IMPORTANT DRUG INTERACTIONS

    Potentially hazardous interactions with other drugs
  • Antidepressants: antagonism of anticonvulsant effect (convulsive threshold lowered)
  • Antimalarials: mefloquine antagonises anticonvulsant effect; chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine occasionally reduce seizure threshold

    ADMINISTRATION

    Reconstition

    Route

    Oral, IV

    Rate of Administration

    15 minutes

    Comments

    Dilute in 100 mL sodium chloride or glucose 5%

    OTHER INFORMATION

    51% of the dose is removed with 4 hours of haemodialysisThe inactive metabolite (ucb L057) accumulates in renal failure



    See how to identify renal failure stages according to GFR calculation

    See how to diagnose irreversible renal disease

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