What would you do when you face a person having seizures in front of your eyes? Panicked? Yes, you should be but what you should really be doing is to make sure they are safe by cushioning their head from the hard ground and keeping airway, making sure their surroundings are clear of possible danger and to stay with them until they are awake and alert. Definitely call for medical assistance if seizures last more than 5 minutes or the person does not regain consciousness. From here on, we will be learning about a drug used to treat those with seizures known as Keppra 500 mg.
You probably wonder if Keppra is a good medicine for seizures. Yes, it is actually. You will understand this as you read through this article. Keppra contains levetiracetam as its active ingredients. It is known as an antiepileptic/anticonvulsant drug used to treat seizures. This drug helps to lower the number of seizures. Keep in mind that there are many kinds of seizures that could occur in an epilepsy. Keppra helps to control certain types of seizures. You may be confused with the terms “seizures” and “epilepsy”. Seizures are a single occurrence whereas epilepsy is a condition of the brain of at least 2 or more unprovoked seizures. A person with seizures may have epilepsy but a person with epilepsy certainly has seizures. It is worth noting that seizures may happen due to non-neurological reasons outside the brain such as low blood sugar level and heart conditions.
Keppra alters the abnormal electrical activity in the brain. In a normal brain, the brain cells send messages to other brain cells and communicate with each other through electrical signals plus chemical brain activity. People with seizures have a brain in which the brain cells are not communicating properly or working faster than the normal brain does as a result of a burst of exploding electrical activity. Levetiracetam in Keppra reduces brain activity in seizures by joining with a protein known as SV2A. Protein SV2A in the brain works to release brain chemicals such as neurotransmitters. This substance plays a role in the way the brain cells communicate. Thus, when levetiracetam is combined with SV2A, it regulates the neurotransmitter and ultimately stops the seizures.
Keppra needs to be taken according to the doctor’s instructions. It needs to be swallowed as a whole with sufficient quantity of liquid (as simple as a glass of water), with or without food. Never crush or chew the tablet because this may affect the effectiveness of the drug to work optimally inside the body system. Plus, this medicine tastes bitter so patients might want to skip that part by taking it as a whole and avoid tasting the unpleasant taste. Typically, it is recommended to take twice daily. It is best to take it regularly at the same time everyday to help patients remember taking it on a daily basis. The dose of the medicine may be gradually increased over time by the doctor to help reach the effective dose.
Patients need to be patient before experiencing any changes as Keppra takes a few weeks before it has full effects on the body. This means that a person taking Keppra may still experience seizures in the meantime until the medicine works optimally. Studies show that usage of levetiracetam with other seizures medicine helps to decrease at least 50% number of seizures each month in 20-40% people.
Medicine prescribed by doctors does provide benefits but as we all know, all medicine does have potential side effects. Common side effects include fatigue, feeling sleepy, stuffy nose, itchy throat and feeling irritable. Remember, doctors would always prescribe medicine that brings benefits that outweigh the side effects. If side effects get worse or seem to not go away, patients need to let their doctor know and to not stop taking the medicine unless stated otherwise by their doctor. Serious side effect such as worsening seizures, serious mental changes such as heavy sleepiness, abnormal behaviour or severe mood changes especially presence of suicidal thought and/or attempts and aggressive behaviour should be seen considered as serious health issues which the patient need to get immediate medical care such as getting to the emergency room promptly.
In essence, Keppra is a good medicine to treat seizures. It helps to treat certain kinds of seizures. To better understand the many different kinds of seizures, it is best to ask healthcare providers for further clarification. Antiepileptic medicine is typically taken for a long period of time before it is able to control seizures. Beside taking medicine, patients need to identify triggers that may have caused seizures and patients need to try their best to stay away from it. Patients with a history of seizures or seizures not under control need to always be in safe environments away from danger or possible hazards. It is best for patients to make plans with their healthcare provider and caregiver to help patients have a safe and functional life.
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