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Levetiracetam Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Warnings

Levetiracetam is also known as: Keppra, Keppra XR

Overview

If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Levetiracetam while you are pregnant. Levetiracetam is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Levetiracetam.

Levetiracetam Pregnancy Warnings

Extensive transfer of levetiracetam from mother to fetus has been reported. To provide information regarding the effects of in utero exposure to levetiracetam, physicians are advised to recommend that pregnant patients taking levetiracetam enroll in the North American Antiepileptic Drug (NAAED) Pregnancy Registry. This can be done by calling the toll free number 1-888-233-2334, and must be done by patients themselves. Information on the registry can also be found at the website http://www.aedpregnancyregistry.org/.

Levetiracetam has been assigned to pregnancy category C by the FDA. Animal studies have revealed evidence of increased incidences of minor fetal skeletal abnormalities, retarded offspring growth, embryofetal mortality, and offspring behavioral alterations. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. Levetiracetam is only recommended for use during pregnancy when the potential benefits justify the potential risk to the fetus.

Levetiracetam Breastfeeding Warnings

Extensive transfer of levetiracetam into breast-milk has been reported. However, breast-fed infants were reported to have very low levetiracetam serum concentrations, suggesting a rapid elimination of levetiracetam. Caution is recommended if levetiracetam is to be administered to a nursing mother.

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