LEVETIRACETAM ALTER 1000 mg FILM-COATED TABLETS

Introduction

Package Leaflet: Information for the Patient

Levetiracetam Alter 250 mg Film-Coated Tablets EFG

Levetiracetam Alter 500 mg Film-Coated Tablets EFG

Levetiracetam Alter 1000 mg Film-Coated Tablets EFG

Levetiracetam

Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.

• Keep this leaflet, you may need to read it again.
• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
• If you experience any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

Contents of the pack

1. What is Levetiracetam Alter and what is it used for
2. What you need to know before you take Levetiracetam Alter
3. How to take Levetiracetam Alter
4. Possible side effects
5. Storage of Levetiracetam Alter
6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. What is Levetiracetam Alter and what is it used for

Levetiracetam is an antiepileptic medicine (a medicine used to treat seizures in epilepsy).

Levetiracetam is used:

• on its own in adults and adolescents from 16 years of age with newly diagnosed epilepsy to treat a certain form of epilepsy. Epilepsy is a condition where you have attacks (seizures). Levetiracetam is used for a form of epilepsy where the seizures initially only affect one side of the brain but may then spread to wider areas on both sides of the brain (partial onset seizures with or without secondary generalisation). Your doctor has prescribed levetiracetam for you to reduce the number of seizures.

• in combination with other antiepileptic medicines to treat:

• partial onset seizures with or without secondary generalisation in adults, adolescents, children and infants from 1 month of age.
• myoclonic seizures (short, shock-like jerks of a muscle or a group of muscles) in adults and adolescents from 12 years of age with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.
• primary generalised tonic-clonic seizures (major seizures, including loss of consciousness) in adults and adolescents from 12 years of age with idiopathic generalised epilepsy (a type of epilepsy that is thought to have a genetic cause).

2. What you need to know before you take Levetiracetam Alter

Do not take Levetiracetam Alter

• if you are allergic to levetiracetam, to pyrrolidone derivatives or to any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine.

• a small number of people taking antiepileptics such as levetiracetam have had thoughts of harming themselves or suicidal thoughts. If you have any symptoms of depression and/or suicidal thoughts, contact your doctor.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following side effects get worse or last more than a few days:

• abnormal thoughts, feeling irritable or reacting more aggressively than usual or if you or your family and friends notice important changes in your mood or behaviour.
• worsening of epilepsy

Rarely, epileptic seizures may worsen or occur more frequently, mainly during the first month after starting treatment or after increasing the dose. In a very rare form of early-onset epilepsy (epilepsy associated with SCN8A mutations) that causes multiple types of epileptic seizures and loss of skills, you may notice that seizures persist or worsen during treatment.

If you experience any of these new symptoms while taking levetiracetam, see a doctor as soon as possible.

Children and adolescents

Monotherapy with levetiracetam is not indicated in children and adolescents under 16 years.

Taking Levetiracetam Alter with other medicines

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.

Do not take macrogol (a medicine used as a laxative) for 1 hour before and 1 hour after taking levetiracetam, as it may lose its effect.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine. Levetiracetam should only be used during pregnancy if your doctor considers it necessary.

Do not stop your treatment without discussing it with your doctor.

The risk of birth defects for your baby cannot be completely excluded.

Breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment with levetiracetam.

Driving and using machines

Levetiracetam may affect your ability to drive or use tools or machines, as it may cause drowsiness. This is more likely at the start of treatment or when the dose is increased. You should not drive or use machines until it is established that your ability to perform such activities is not affected.

Levetiracetam Alter contains sodium

This medicine contains less than 23 mg of sodium (1 mmol) per tablet; this is essentially “sodium-free”.

3. How to take Levetiracetam Alter

Follow exactly the instructions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist. In case of doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist again.

Take the number of tablets that your doctor has prescribed for you.

Levetiracetam should be taken twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, approximately at the same time every day.

Concomitant therapyand monotherapy(from 16 years of age)

• Adults(≥18 years) and adolescents (from 12 to 17 years) weighing 50 kg or more:

Recommended dose: between 1,000 mg and 3,000 mg per day.

When you start taking levetiracetam, your doctor will prescribe a lower dosefor 2 weeks before giving you the lowest daily dose.

For example: for a daily dose of 1,000 mg, your reduced starting dose is 1 tablet of 250 mg in the morning and 1 tablet of 250 mg in the evening, and the dose should be gradually increased toreach 1,000 mg per day after 2 weeks of treatment.

• Adolescents (from12 to17 years) weighing 50 kg or less:

Your doctor will prescribe the most suitable pharmaceutical form of Levetiracetam according to your weight and dose.

• Dose in infants (from 1 month to 23 months) and children (from2 to11 years) weighing less than 50 kg:

Your doctor will prescribe the most suitable pharmaceutical form of levetiracetam according to age, weight, and dose.

Levetiracetam 100 mg/ml oral solution is a more suitable formulation for infants and children under 6 years and for children and adolescents (from 6 to 17 years) weighing less than 50 kg and when tablets do not allow for precise dosing.

Method of administration:

Swallow the levetiracetam tablets with a sufficient amount of liquid (e.g., a glass of water). You can take levetiracetam with or without food. After oral administration of levetiracetam, a bitter taste may be perceived.

Duration of treatment:

• Levetiracetam is used as a chronic treatment. You should continue treatment with levetiracetam for as long as your doctor has told you.
• Do not stop your treatment without your doctor's advice, as your seizures may increase.

If you take more Levetiracetam Alter than you should

In case of overdose or accidental ingestion, consult your doctor or pharmacist immediately or call the Toxicology Information Service, telephone: 91 562 04 20, indicating the medicine and the amount taken.

Possible side effects of a levetiracetam overdose are drowsiness, agitation, aggression, decreased alertness, respiratory depression, and coma.

Contact your doctor if you have taken more tablets than you should. Your doctor will establish the best possible treatment for the overdose.

If you forget to take Levetiracetam Alter

Contact your doctor if you have missed one or more doses.

Do not take a double dose to make up for forgotten doses.

If you stop taking Levetiracetam Alter

Stopping treatment with levetiracetam should be done gradually to avoid an increase in seizures. If your doctor decides to stop your treatment with levetiracetam, he/she will give you instructions for gradual withdrawal of levetiracetam.

If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4. Possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Tell your doctor immediately, or go to the casualty department of your nearest hospital if you experience:

• weakness, dizziness or difficulty breathing, as these may be signs of a severe allergic reaction (anaphylactic reaction).
• swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat (Quincke's oedema)
• flu-like symptoms and rash on the face followed by a prolonged rash with high temperature, elevated liver enzymes in blood tests, and an increase in a type of white blood cells (eosinophilia) and enlarged lymph nodes (Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS))
• symptoms such as low urine output, tiredness, nausea, vomiting, confusion, and swelling of legs, ankles, or feet, as this may be a sign of sudden decrease in kidney function
• a skin rash that may form blisters and may look like targets (central dark spots surrounded by a paler area, with a dark ring on the edge) (erythema multiforme)
• a widespread rash with blisters and peeling of the skin, especially around the mouth, nose, eyes, and genitals (Stevens-Johnson syndrome)
• a more severe form causing skin peeling on more than 30% of the body surface (toxic epidermal necrolysis)
• signs of severe mental changes or if someone around you notices signs of confusion, drowsiness (drowsiness), amnesia (memory loss), memory impairment (memory loss), abnormal behaviour, or other neurological signs including involuntary or uncontrolled movements. These may be symptoms of encephalopathy.

The most frequently reported side effects are nasopharyngitis, somnolence (feeling drowsy), headache, fatigue, and dizziness. Side effects such as drowsiness, weakness, and dizziness may be more frequent when starting treatment or increasing the dose. However, these side effects should decrease over time.

Very common: may affect more than 1 in 10 people

• nasopharyngitis;
• somnolence (feeling drowsy), headache.

Common: may affect up to 1 in 10 people

• loss of appetite;
• depression, hostility or aggression, anxiety, insomnia, nervousness or irritability;
• seizures, balance disorders, dizziness (feeling unsteady), lethargy (lack of energy and enthusiasm), tremor (involuntary tremor);
• vertigo (feeling of spinning);
• cough;
• abdominal pain, diarrhoea, dyspepsia (indigestion), vomiting, nausea;
• skin rash;
• asthenia/fatigue (feeling weak).

Uncommon: may affect up to 1 in 100 people

• decrease in platelet count, decrease in white blood cell count;
• weight loss, weight gain;
• suicidal attempt and suicidal thoughts, mental disorders, abnormal behaviour, hallucinations, anger, confusion, panic attack, emotional instability/mood changes, agitation;
• amnesia (memory loss), memory impairment (memory loss), abnormal coordination/ataxia (altered coordination of movements), paraesthesia (tingling), attention disorders (loss of concentration);
• double vision, blurred vision;
• elevated/abnormal liver function values;
• hair loss, eczema, itching;
• muscle weakness, myalgia (muscle pain);
• injury.

Rare: may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people

• infection;
• decrease in all types of blood cells;
• severe allergic reactions (DRESS, anaphylactic reaction, Quincke's oedema);
• decrease in sodium levels in the blood;
• suicide, personality disorders (behavioural problems), abnormal thinking (slow thinking, difficulty concentrating);
• delirium;
• encephalopathy (see subsection “Tell your doctor immediately” for a detailed description of symptoms);
• epileptic seizures may worsen or occur more frequently;
• uncontrolled muscle spasms affecting the head, torso, and limbs, difficulty controlling movements, hyperkinesia (hyperactivity);
• change in heart rhythm (electrocardiogram);
• pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas);
• liver failure, hepatitis (inflammation of the liver); sudden decrease in kidney function.
• skin rash, which may lead to blisters that may look like targets (central dark spots surrounded by a paler area, with a dark ring on the edge) (erythema multiforme), a widespread rash with blisters and peeling of the skin, especially around the mouth, nose, eyes, and genitals (Stevens-Johnson syndrome) and a more severe form causing skin peeling on more than 30% of the body surface (toxic epidermal necrolysis);
• rhabdomyolysis (breakdown of muscle tissue) and increased creatine phosphokinase in the blood. The prevalence is significantly higher in Japanese patients compared to non-Japanese patients;
• limping or difficulty walking.
• combination of fever, muscle stiffness, unstable blood pressure and heart rate, confusion, low level of consciousness (may be signs of a disorder called malignant neuroleptic syndrome). The prevalence is significantly higher in Japanese patients compared to non-Japanese patients.

Very rare: may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people

• unwanted and repetitive thoughts or feelings or the urge to do something over and over again (obsessive-compulsive disorder).

Reporting of side effects

If you experience any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Spanish Pharmacovigilance System for Human Use Medicines: https://www.notificaram.es. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. Storage of Levetiracetam Alter

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

This medicine does not require any special storage conditions.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of the month shown.

Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help protect the environment.

6. Packaging Content and Additional Information

Composition of Levetiracetam Alter

• The active ingredient is levetiracetam. Each tablet contains 250 mg; 500 mg; 1000 mg of levetiracetam. The exact amount is shown on the medication packaging.
• The other components are:

Tablet core: microcrystalline cellulose, sodium croscarmellose, anhydrous colloidal silica, macrogol 6000, magnesium stearate.

Film coating: hypromellose, titanium dioxide (E171), glycerol triacetate, and purified water.

Product Appearance and Packaging Content

Levetiracetam Alter 250 mg are white, round, biconcave, and scored tablets.

The packaging contains 60 tablets.

Levetiracetam Alter 500 mg are white, oblong, and scored tablets.

The packaging contains 60 tablets.

Levetiracetam Alter 1000 mg are white, oblong, and scored tablets.

The packaging contains 30 or 60 tablets.

Each tablet can be divided into equal doses.

Only some packaging sizes may be marketed.

Marketing Authorization Holder and Manufacturer

Laboratorios Alter, S.A.

C/ Mateo Inurria, 30

28036 Madrid

Spain

or

Laboratorios Alter, S.A.

C/ Zeus, 6

Polígono Industrial R2

28880 Meco (Madrid)

Spain

Date of the Last Revision of this Leaflet: July 2023

Detailed and updated information on this medication is available on the website of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) http://www.aemps.gob.es/