what is levetiracetam 500 mg used for

Levetiracetam 500 mg is a medication used to treat seizures (epilepsy) . It is an anticonvulsant drug that works by decreasing abnormal excitement in the brain. Levetiracetam is used alone or in combination with other medications to control partial-onset seizures (seizures that involve only one part of the brain) in adults, children, and infants 1 month of age or older. It is also used in combination with other medications to treat seizure in adults and children 12 years of age or older with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. Additionally, it is used in combination with other medications to treat primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures (formerly known as a grand mal seizure; seizure that involves the entire body) in adults and children 6 years of age or older with epilepsy. The recommended dose of levetiracetam is usually started at 250 or 500 mg twice a day and can be increased by 500 mg twice a day every 2 weeks. The best amount of seizure medicine is the amount that controls seizures without causing bothersome side effects.