Tegretol vs. Keppra

• Are Tegretol and Keppra the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Tegretol?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Keppra?
• What Is Tegretol?
• What Is Keppra?
• What Drugs Interact with Tegretol?
• What Drugs Interact with Keppra?
• How Should Tegretol Be Taken?
• How Should Keppra Be Taken?

Tegretol(carbamazepine) andKeppra(levetiracetam) are anticonvulsants used to treat seizures.

Tegretol is also used totreatnervepainsuch astrigeminal neuralgiaanddiabetic neuropathy, and to treatbipolar disorder.

Side effectsof Tegretol and Keppra that are similar includedizzinessor drowsiness.

Side effects of Tegretol that are different from Keppra includenausea, vomiting,dry mouth,swollen tongue, loss ofbalanceor coordination, orunsteadiness.

Side effects of Keppra that are different from Tegretol include weakness,infection, loss of appetite,stuffy nose,tiredness, sleepiness, accidentalinjury, hostility, nervousness, and weakness.

Both Tegretol and Keppra may interact with otherseizuremedications, birthcontrolpills orhormonereplacementtherapy, orbloodthinners.

Tegretol may also interact withtheophylline, antibiotics, drugs to treattuberculosis,antifungalmedications,cancermedicines,heartorblood pressuremedications,HIVorAIDSmedications, medications to treatdepressionor mental illness, medicines to preventorgantransplantrejection, steroids, orthyroidreplacement medications.

Keppra may also interact withalcohol,digoxin, and probenecid.

You may have increased seizures or unpleasantwithdrawal symptomsif you stop using Tegretol suddenly.

Common side effects of Tegretol include:

• nausea,
• vomiting,
• dizziness,
• drowsiness,
• drymouth,
• swollentongue,
• loss of balance or coordination, or
• unsteadiness.

Common side effects of Keppra include:

• drowsiness,
• weakness,
• infection,
• loss of appetite,
• stuffynose,
• tiredness, and
• dizziness.

Side effects of Kepprainchildren include

• sleepiness,
• accidental injury,
• hostility,
• nervousness, and
• weakness.

Tegretol (carbamazepine) is ananticonvulsantused to treat seizures and nerve pain such as trigeminalneuralgiaand diabeticneuropathy. Tegretol is also used to treat bipolar disorder. Tegretol is available ingenericform.

Keppra (levetiracetam) is ananti-epileptic drug (AED) (antoconvulsant) often used in conjunction with other drugs to treat types of seizures in people withepilepsy.

Tegretol may interact with otherseizure medications, HIV or AIDS medications, antibiotics,antidepressants, medications to treat mental illness, or blood thinners.

Tegretol may also interact with theophylline,birth controlpills or hormone replacement therapy, drugs to treat tuberculosis, antifungal medications, cancer medicines, heart or blood pressure medications, medicines to prevent organ transplant rejection, steroids, or thyroid replacement medications.

You may have increased seizures or unpleasant withdrawal symptoms if you stop using Tegretol suddenly.

Keppra may interact with alcohol.

The starting dose of Tegretol to treat epilepsy in adults and children over 12 years of age is 200mgtwice daily for tablets and XR tablets, or 1 tsp 4 times daily for suspension (400 mg/day). Usual maintenance dose is 800-1200 mg daily. The starting dose to treat trigeminal neuralgia is 100 mg twice daily for tablets or XR tablets, or ½ tsp 4 times daily for suspension, for a total daily dose of 200 mg. Control of pain is maintained in most patients with 400-800 mg daily. Consult yourdoctorforpediatricdoses.

Keppra (levetiracetam) is available in pills in the following dosages and colors: 250 mg (blue), 500 mg (yellow), 750 mg (orange), and 1,000 mg (white). Keppra (levetiracetam) is also available as a clear, colorless grape-flavored liquid at a concentration of 100 mg/mL. Drug interactions includephenytoin, valproate,oralcontraceptives, digoxin,warfarin, and probenecid. Keppra (levetiracetam) should be used duringpregnancyonly if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to thefetus. Keppra (levetiracetam) is excreted inbreast milk. Women must talk to their doctors to decide whether to discontinuenursingor the drug.