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Reviewed By Dr Aneela Siddabathuni , MPharma., PhD
Last Updated Oct 30, 2024 | 5:51 AM IST

Epipil 500 Tablet is used to treat seizures (fits) due to epilepsy. It is used for the epilepsy form in which the fits affect only one side of the brain, but could extend to larger areas on both sides of the brain. It contains Levetiracetam, which works by slowing down the abnormal signals in the brain which cause episodes of seizures. It helps by suppressing specific brain sites responsible for abnormal activity and prevents the spread of electrical signals that cause seizures. In some cases, you may experience side effects such as daytime drowsiness, disturbed sleep, light-headedness, dizziness, sleepiness, general weakness, and unexplained infections. Before taking this medicine, you should tell your doctor if you are allergic to any of its components or if you are pregnant/breastfeeding, and about all the medications you are taking and pre-existing medical conditions.

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Prescription drug

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Prescription drug
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Manufacturer/Marketer

Legrand Pharmaceuticals

Consume Type

ORAL

Return Policy

Not Returnable

Expires on or after

Jan-27

for this medicine

About Epipil 500 Tablet

Epipil 500 Tablet is used to treat seizures (fits) due to epilepsy. Epilepsy is a chronic condition where the patients have repeated fits (convulsions). Epipil 500 Tablet is used for the epilepsy form in which the fits affect only one side of the brain, but could extend to larger areas on both sides of the brain.

Epipil 500 Tablet contains Levetiracetam, which works by slowing down the abnormal signals in the brain which cause episodes of seizures. It helps by suppressing specific brain sites responsible for abnormal activity and prevents the spread of electrical signals that cause seizures. It reduces the episodes of seizures but does not cure epilepsy.

Take Epipil 500 Tablet as prescribed. Your doctor will decide how often you should take Epipil 500 Tablet based on your medical condition. In some cases, you may experience daytime drowsiness, disturbed sleep, light-headedness, dizziness, sleepiness, general weakness, and unexplained infections. Most of these side effects of Epipil 500 Tablet do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects are persistent, please reach out to your doctor.

It is not known if Epipil 500 Tablet is safe or effective in children below four years of age. Inform the doctor if you have kidney disease, lung disease, muscle weakness (myasthenia gravis), difficulty in sleeping (sleep apnoea), severe liver disease, or a problem with alcohol or other prescription drugs. Consult the doctor if you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Epipil 500 Tablet affects you, as its intake may make you dizzy or sleepy. Young children (especially less than 16 years) are more likely to develop behavioural changes like aggression than adults, so Epipil 500 Tablet should only be given under medical supervision to children. Suddenly stopping Epipil 500 Tablet can cause withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, increased heart rate, tremors, or general unwell feeling. Suicidal thoughts or actions can be caused in some patients taking Epipil 500 Tablet , so pay attention to any sudden change in mood swings, behaviour, or feeling.

Uses of Epipil 500 Tablet

Treatment of Epilepsy/Seizures

Medicinal Benefits

Epipil 500 Tablet contains Levetiracetam, used in combination or alone for treating symptoms of epilepsy. It works by slowing down the abnormal signals which the brain gives, leading to episodes of seizures. It helps by suppressing specific brain sites responsible for abnormal activity and prevents the spread of electrical signals that cause seizures. It reduces the episodes of seizures but does not cure epilepsy.

Directions for Use

Tablet: Take it as advised by the doctor. Swallow it as a whole with a glass of water. Do not crush, break or chew it.Syrup: Shake the bottle well before use. Take the prescribed dose by mouth using the measuring cup/dosing syringe/dropper provided by the pack.

Storage

Store in a cool and dry place away from sunlight

Side Effects of Epipil 500 Tablet

  • Daytime drowsiness
  • Disturbed sleep
  • Light-headedness
  • Dizziness
  • Sleepiness
  • General weakness
  • Unexplained infections

Drug Warnings

Taking Epipil 500 Tablet with other anti-epileptic medication can cause severe drowsiness, breathing problems, coma, and death. Epipil 500 Tablet should be taken with extreme caution in patients with a history of alcohol or drug abuse. Epipil 500 Tablet may affect your ability to drive or operate heavy machinery if taken with alcohol as you may feel dizzy, and you may be unable to concentrate. If you feel excess suicidal thoughts, difficulty concentrating, sleep disturbances, dizziness, or sleepiness, let your doctor know about this. Pregnant or lactating women should consult a doctor before taking it as Category C pregnancy medication. Do not take Epipil 500 Tablet if you are allergic to any of its active ingredients, suffer from lung disease, liver disease, glaucoma, have difficulty in sleeping (sleep apnoea). Epipil 500 Tablet can cause serious allergic reactions (anaphylaxis), which can be life-threatening. Please visit the doctor immediately if you have a rash, itching, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or swelling of your hands, face, or mouth while using this medicine.

Drug Interactions

Drug-Drug Interaction: This medicine may have interaction with antianxiety or antiepileptic medicines (carbamazepine, fluvoxamine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone), anti-HIV drugs (amprenavir, ritonavir), acidity medicine (cimetidine), drugs to treat chronic alcoholism (disulfiram), anti-tuberculosis drug (rifampicin), anti-Parkinson’s drug (levodopa), and asthma drugs (theophylline).

Drug-Food Interaction: Epipil 500 Tablet may interact with a multivitamin, multi-mineral, or other herbal supplements. So, if you are using any of the OTC items, please tell your doctor.

Drug-Disease Interaction: Effectiveness of Epipil 500 Tablet is affected in haemodialysis (when kidneys are not naturally able to perform a function), anaemia (low haemoglobin level). Also, obese people (with a BMI greater than 25) should consult a doctor before taking Epipil 500 Tablet .

Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List

  • RITONAVIR
  • CIMETIDINE
  • DISULFIRAM
  • PHENOBARBITAL
  • LEVODOPA
  • THEOPHYLLINE
  • PHENYTOIN

Habit Forming

No

Diet & Lifestyle Advise

  • Do regular exercise, which can help lower anxiety by releasing endorphins and improving your sleep and self-image.
  • Find humour in your daily life. Try to watch light-hearted shows to help relieve stress.
  • You can try increasing your mindfulness by including yoga, meditation, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, and mindfulness-based stress reduction.
  • Drink enough water to stay hydrated, and limit or avoid alcohol and caffeine to relieve anxiety.
  • Include a diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, and fruits. This is a healthier option than eating a lot of simple carbohydrates found in processed foods.
  • Reduce your alcohol, caffeine, added sugar, high salt, and high fat intake. Especially trans-fat may help also help reduce inflammation.
  • You can include antioxidants in your daily diet like ashwagandha, omega-3 fatty acids, green tea, and lemon balm.
  • Try to spend time with your friends and family. Having a strong social network may help you lower your risk of anxiety.

Disease/Condition Glossary

Epilepsy: Epilepsy is a brain-related chronic disorder characterized by episodes of seizures (fits). In this condition, there is a chemical change in the brain cells (neurons) that leads to a sudden rise of electrical activity (impulse) in the brain followed by sudden jerky movements of limbs or a body part. This disease cannot be cured but managed.

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Alcohol

Unsafe

You are recommended not to consume alcohol along with Epipil 500 Tablet to avoid unpleasant side-effects like drowsiness, dizziness, or sleepiness. It may also lead to a life-threatening condition like coma if taken with excessive alcohol.

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Pregnancy

Caution

Epipil 500 Tablet is a Category C risk pregnancy drug that is considered unsafe for pregnant women. Epipil 500 Tablet can have some harmful effects on the baby (fetus), so your doctor will weigh the benefits and any potential risks before prescribing it to you.

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Breast Feeding

Unsafe

Epipil 500 Tablet passes into the breast milk and may affect the health of the baby. So, keep your doctor informed if you're planning to breastfeed while on this medication.

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Driving

Unsafe

Epipil 500 Tablet usually causes dizziness, drowsiness, and visual disturbances, which may affect their ability to drive or operate machinery. So, do not drive or operate heavy machinery if you feel sleepy or dizzy after taking Epipil 500 Tablet . Tell your doctor if you get these types of side effects.

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Liver

Caution

Epipil 500 Tablet to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of liver disease. The dose may have to be adjusted by your doctor.

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Kidney

Caution

Epipil 500 Tablet to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of kidney disorders. The dose may have to be adjusted by your doctor. Do not give Epipil 500 Tablet to dialysis patients and kidney failure patients.

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Children

Unsafe

It is not known whether Epipil 500 Tablet is safe or effective in treating conditions like panic disorder in children younger than 18 years old. So, your doctor will decide whether Epipil 500 Tablet can be given to the children less than 18 years of age or not.

Country of origin

INDIA

Manufacturer/Marketer address

CARRERA 19 A 90 13 OFICINA 901 BOGOTA​, D C Colombia.
Other Info - EPI0276

FAQs

Epipil 500 Tablet is used to treat seizures (fits) due to epilepsy.
Epipil 500 Tablet works by slowing down the abnormal signals in the brain which cause episodes of seizures.
There is no clinical evidence that Epipil 500 Tablet affects fertility in either men or women. But, if you are trying to get pregnant, consult your doctor.
Do not stop taking Epipil 500 Tablet until instructed by your doctor. You may get side effects like confusion, depression, nervousness, sweating, and diarrhea. Your doctor may lower the dose of Epipil 500 Tablet if using it for more than 2-4 weeks of treatment to reduce side effects.
Epipil 500 Tablet is prescribed for the long term when used for epilepsy. So, if Epipil 500 Tablet is prescribed for more than 4 weeks, your doctor may reduce the dose before stopping it completely to prevent withdrawal symptoms.
Yes, if you feel unexpected puberty or slowing in growth, please consult your doctor and do as your doctor advises.
No, even if you feel better, you should not stop the medication without consulting your doctor as this might increase the episodes of seizures.
Caffeine is a stimulant that may reduce the calming effects of Epipil 500 Tablet . So, it is advisable to avoid caffeine intakes like coffee, tea, cola, or chocolate containing caffeine.
Yes, Epipil 500 Tablet may cause weight gain as an uncommon side effect. Follow a healthy diet and exercise regularly to maintain proper weight. Talk to the doctor if you have any concerns.
Epipil 500 Tablet might take a few weeks to begin working. You may still have seizures during this time.
Epipil 500 Tablet should be taken for as long as it has been prescribed by the doctor. The duration of treatment depends on your condition and response to the treatment.
Epipil 500 Tablet does not cause addiction as it is not a habit-forming medicine.
An overdose of Epipil 500 Tablet may cause sleepiness, aggression, agitation, decreased alertness, breathing problems, and coma. Consult the doctor if you have exceeded the recommended dose of Epipil 500 Tablet .
Epipil 500 Tablet should be discontinued gradually to prevent an increase in seizures. Consult the doctor if you have any concerns, the doctor will recommend gradual withdrawal of Epipil 500 Tablet .
Yes, Epipil 500 Tablet may cause sleepiness as a side effect. Therefore, avoid driving, operating heavy machinery or doing any activities that require alertness unless you know how this medicine affects you.

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