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The text only version may be available in large print, Braille or audio CD. For further information call emc accessibility on 0800 198 5000. The product code(s) for this leaflet is: PL 14040/0029.
Desitrend
Desitrend® 250 mg coated granules in sachet
Desitrend® 500 mg coated granules in sachet
Desitrend® 1000 mg coated granules in sachet
Levetiracetam
1. What Desitrend is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take Desitrend
3. How to take Desitrend
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Desitrend
6. Contents of the pack and other information
Levetiracetam is an antiepileptic medicine (a medicine used to treat seizures in epilepsy).
Desitrend is used
Talk to your doctor before taking Desitrend
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following side effects gets serious or last longer than a few days:
If you experience any of these new symptoms while taking Desitrend, see a doctor as soon as possible.
Desitrend coated granules are not indicated in children and adolescents below 16 years on its own (monotherapy), and are not recommended in children under the age of 6 years as well as in the initial treatment of children weighing less than 25 kg.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
Do not take macrogol (a drug used as laxative) for one hour before and one hour after taking levetiracetam as this may result in a loss of its effect.
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before taking this medicine.
Levetiracetam can be used during pregnancy, only if after careful assessment it is considered necessary by your doctor.
You should not stop your treatment without discussing this with your doctor. A risk of birth defects for your unborn child cannot be completely excluded.
Breast-feeding is not recommended during treatment.
Desitrend may impair your ability to drive or operate any tools or machinery, as it may make you feel sleepy. This is more likely at the beginning of treatment or after an increase in the dose. You should not drive or use machines until it is established that your ability to perform such activities is not affected.
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Take the number of sachets following your doctor’s instructions.
Desitrend must be taken twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, at about the same time each day.
Adults (≥18 years) and adolescents (12 to 17 years) weighing 50 kg or more:
When you will first start taking Desitrend, your doctor will prescribe you a lower dose (500 mg each day) during 2 weeks before giving you the lowest daily dose of 1,000 mg.
Example: if your daily dose is intended to be 1,000 mg, your reduced starting dose is 1 sachet of 250 mg in the morning and 1 sachet of 250 mg in the evening, and the dose will be gradually incremented to reach 1,000 mg daily after 2 weeks.
Adolescents (12 to 17 years) weighing 50 kg or less
Your doctor will prescribe the most appropriate pharmaceutical form of Desitrend according to weight and dose.
Dose in infants (1 month to 23 months) and children (2 to 11 years) weighing less than 50 kg
Your doctor will prescribe the most appropriate pharmaceutical form of Desitrend according to the age, weight and dose.
Levetiracetam oral solution is a presentation more appropriate to infants and children under the age of 6 years and to children and adolescents (from 6 to 17 years) weighing less than 50 kg and when sachets don’t allow accurate dosage.
1. Hold sachet above arrow and shake content downwards.
2. Tear off at incision (arrowhead) or cut off at dotted line.
3. Pour content directly into the mouth and swallow the granules immediately with a sufficient quantity of liquid (e.g. a glass of water). Do not chew the coated granules, as they may be of bitter taste. You may take Desitrend with or without food.
The coated granules may also be suspended by shaking for a minimum of 2 minutes in at least 10 ml of water and administered via a feeding tube that should be rinsed twice with 10 ml of water each immediately after administration. If this method of administration is used, the suspension should be prepared immediately before administration.
Each sachet is for single use only.
The possible side effects of an overdose of Desitrend are sleepiness, agitation, aggression, decrease of alertness, inhibition of breathing and coma. Contact your doctor if you took more sachets than you should. Your doctor will establish the best possible treatment of overdose.
Contact your doctor if you have missed one or more doses.
Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If stopping treatment, Desitrend should be discontinued gradually to avoid an increase of seizures. Should your doctor decide to stop your Desitrend treatment, he/she will instruct you about the gradual withdrawal of Desitrend.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
The most frequently reported side effects are nasopharyngitis, somnolence (sleepiness), headache, fatigue and dizziness. At the beginning of the treatment or at dose increase side effects like sleepiness, tiredness and dizziness may be more common. These effects should however decrease over time.
Very common: may affect more than 1 in 10 people
Common: may affect up to 1 in 10 people
Uncommon: may affect up to 1 in 100 people
Rare: may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people
Very rare: may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people
Evidence also suggests a possible predisposition of the Japanese population to neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS).
If you get 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 Yellow Card Scheme: Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date stated on the carton box and sachet after EXP:. The expiry date refers to the last day of the month.
This medicine does not require any special storage conditions.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
The active substance is levetiracetam. Each sachet contains 250 or 500 or 1,000 mg of levetiracetam.
The other ingredients are:
Povidone K30
Cellulose, microcrystalline
Silica, colloidal anhydrous
Magnesium stearate
Poly(vinyl alcohol)
Titanium dioxide (E171)
Macrogol 3350
Talc
Coated granules in sachets; the coated granules are white or almost white and round (diameter approx. 2 mm).
Desitrend 250 mg coated granules in sachet
Pack size of 20, 30, 50, 60, 100, 200 sachets
Desitrend 500 mg coated granules in sachet
Pack size of 20, 30, 50, 60, 100, 200 sachets
Desitrend 1000 mg coated granules in sachet
Pack size of 20, 30, 50, 60, 100, 200 sachets
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
This leaflet was last revised in 11/2023.