DEVELOPMENT SITE ONLY
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) |