Imagine that you are walking around or coming back from errands in a small supermarket and you see an unconscious person lying down shakingly on the ground. Your first instinct will be what is happening but you will come to realise this could be a sign of seizures. Besides a brief moment of panic, what should you really do? What you can do is to make sure they are safe by cushioning their head from constant banging on the ground or shelves nearby. Next, you should stay with them until they are fully awake and alert. Simple quick questions of asking “are you alright?” and “where are you now” can help you identify if they are awake and alert. You should ask for help and medical assistance especially if the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes or the person does not seem to gain consciousness.
Treating seizure is essential to prevent the person from any unwanted injuries and for them to actually be able to function as other normal people could. There are a number of medicines used to help treat this condition. One of them is the Keppra 500 mg. Keppra contains levetiracetam as its active ingredients. This drug belongs to the class of antiepileptic/ anticonvulsant. Such drug classes in general are used to treat seizures but do not be surprised to see if these drugs are used in other conditions such as for pain management especially in chronic pain. Seizures are divided into many types and Keppra is able to control certain types of seizures. Hence, you may be receiving different kinds of antiepileptic drugs compared to another person that you know have seizures.
The term epilepsy and seizures often is used interchangeably and you may be confused if it does mean the same thing. Seizures are defined as sudden uncontrolled movement and changes in behaviour as a result of abnormal activity in the brain and is a single occurrence. Epilepsy is defined as 2 or more unprovoked seizures as a result of an abnormal activity in the brain. This translates to a person experiencing seizures may or may not have epilepsy but people with epilepsy definitely have seizures. Seizures may occur due to reasons not relating to the brain condition such as low blood sugar level and heart conditions.
What exactly does Keppra do to the brain? In a normal brain condition, the brain cells message to each other through electrical signals and chemical brain activity. In the brains of people with seizures, the brain cells are not communicating properly or are working faster than normal through bursts of electrical activity. Levetiracetam in Keppra works to reduce seizures by joining with a protein in the brain known as SV2A. The protein SV2A plays a role in the release of brain chemicals such as neurotransmitters used in the brain to communicate between brain cells. Thus, when levetiracetam is combined with SV2A, it regulates the neurotransmitters and puts seizures to halt.
Keppra needs to be taken on a regular basis and it is best to take at the same time of the day. It usually takes a few weeks before this medication can fully work and have an effect on the body. During this time, you may still have seizures until the drug really works. Studies show that usage of levetiracetam when given with other seizure medicines, 20 to 40% people have at least 50% decrease in number of seizures each month. Keppra needs to be taken as directed by your doctor. The recommended dose is twice daily. However, the medicine dose may be gradually increased by your doctor in order to achieve the effective dose that brings maximum benefits for you. Always take Keppra as a whole and never crush or chew the tablet to prevent less effectiveness as this tablet is meant to be taken as a whole and designed to match the body metabolism process. Furthermore, this medicine has an unpleasant bitter taste which you might not want to taste if you do not take it as a whole. Swallowed this medicine as a whole with a glass of water, with or without food.
There is no medicine that does not have potential side effects. However, you should understand that doctors have already evaluated the benefits and side effects of a drug they prescribe to you to ensure you are getting all the benefits they intend to with less side effects. Common side effects include feeling sleepy, fatigue, stuffy nose, itchy throat and feeling irritable. If these side effects go on or get worse, you should let your doctor know. You should not stop taking this medicine unless you are advised to do so by your doctor. If serious side effect such as worsening seizures, aggressive behaviour, serious mental changes such as heavy sleepiness and abnormal behaviour or severe mood changes especially presence of suicidal thought or attempts, please go to emergency department immediately to get medical help.
It can be concluded that Keppra is a medicine used to treat certain kinds of seizures. A person needs to take it for weeks before they can feel any improvement to the number and episodes of the seizures. Apart from taking medicine, learning on what can trigger seizures can greatly help a person understand and stay away from the triggers. Always make sure people with a history of seizures or seizures not under control need to always be in safe environments away from danger or possible hazards.
