DO NOT USE - ALL INFORMATION LIKELY INCORRECT IF NOT ACTIVELY DANGEROUS
Please use current guidelines available on the UHNM intranet for patient treatment
Please use current guidelines available on the UHNM intranet for patient treatment
INDICATIONS
- Loading dosage in status epilepticus (unlicensed indication)
- Status epilepticus where phenytoin is inappropriate due to:
- contraindications (2nd and 3rd degree heart block; sino-atrial block; sinus bradycardia; Stokes-Adams syndrome)
- stroke history
- interacting medications - especially DOACs (apixaban, edoxaban, rivaroxaban and dabigatran)
NOTES
- Loading dose of levetiracetam does not require adjustment in patients with impaired renal function. Use doses indicated in Table 1 irrespective of eGFR
PREPARATIONS
- Levetiracetam injection 100 mg/mL in 5 mL (500 mg) ampoules
DILUENTS
- Sodium chloride 0.9%, glucose 5%, Hartmann’s
DOSAGE
- Levetiracetam 60 mg/kg by IV infusion up to a maximum of 4500 mg (see Table 1 for dose by weight-band)
- Dilute required dose in ≥100 mL of suitable diluent (see Diluents above) and give by IV over 15 min
Table 1: Weight-banded loading dose of levetiracetam (60 mg/kg)
Weight (kg) |
45-54 |
55-64 |
65-74 |
75+ |
Loading dose of levetiracetam (500 mg/5 mL) |
3000 mg (30 mL) |
3600 mg (36 mL) |
4200 mg (42 mL) |
4500 mg (45 mL) |
Last reviewed: 2023-12-27