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Benefits of Keppra |
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The Epilepsy Foundation defines the goal of successful treatment as no seizures and little to no side effects from medication or treatment. If Keppra is right for you, it may be an important part of achieving the highest level of seizure control possible. In fact, Keppra was shown to be beneficial even for patients who experienced repeated seizures after trying many different treatments (this is referred to as refractory epilepsy). In a double-blind multicenter study of patients with primary generalized tonic-clonic (PGTC) seizures, patients were randomized to receive treatment with Keppra or a placebo over a 24-week period. In this study, a significant number of patients with refractory epilepsy, 24.1% of patients, achieved seizure freedom while taking Keppra compared with 7.1% of patients who took placebo.
Results from clinical studies:
- Primary generalized tonic-clonic (PGTC)—72.2 % of patients treated with Keppra experienced a 50% or greater reduction in seizures during the 24-week treatment period compared with just 45.2% of patients in the placebo group
- Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME)—60.4% of patients treated with Keppra achieved a 50% or greater reduction in seizures during the 16-week treatment period vs. 22% of patients in the placebo group
- Partial onset seizures—39.6% of patients treated with Keppra achieved a 50% or greater reduction in seizures during the treatment period compared with 7.4% of patients in the placebo group
And, treatment with Keppra is easy. Here’s why:
- It comes in both a tablet and a liquid form.
- You only have to take it twice a day.
- It can be taken with or without food.
- You don’t need blood level tests for Keppra.
- Keppra has no known clinically significant drug interactions; it has been shown to be safe when used with other antiepilepsy medicines and with everyday drugs such as birth control pills or warfarin.
- Keppra is not broken down in the liver, unlike many other antiepilepsy medicines.
Learn more about Keppra. Get free updates including online tools, tips, and insights on living with epilepsy as well as the latest information on diagnosis and treatment. Sign up now.
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First- and Second-Generation Epilepsy Medicines |
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Epilepsy medications can be divided into older medications (called first-generation anticonvulsants) and more recently developed medications (second-generation anticonvulsants). Antiepileptic drugs were first used in the late 19th and early to mid-20th centuries. Some of these medicines, like phenytoin, carbamazepine, and valproic acid, are still in wide use today. However, possible side effects commonly associated with these older medicines, like facial coarsening, weight gain, acne, and gum hyperplasia, may present obstacles to treatment.
Newer, second-generation epilepsy medications began to appear in the 1990s. In general, the new medications are reported to have fewer serious side effects than the older ones. Of second-generation medicines, Keppra is proven to reduce seizure frequency and works to control even tough seizures.
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