Acolev 500mg Tablet is an anti-epileptic medicine used to treat seizures (fits) in epilepsy. It can be used alone or along with other medicines. It helps to prevent seizures for as long as you continue to take it.

Acolev 500mg Tablet suppresses the abnormal electrical activity in the brain. You can take it with or without food but try to take it at the same time each day to get the most benefit. The dose will depend on your condition and how you respond to the medicine. Your doctor will advise the right dose for you. It is generally advised as a long-term treatment. You should continue taking it for as long as your doctor has told you to, even if you feel well. If you stop or miss doses your seizures could get worse.

Some common side effects of this medicine include headache, irritation, sleepiness, behavior changes, aggressive behavior, and decreased appetite. Side effects are more common during the first few weeks and usually lessen as your body gets used to the medicine. Most of these side effects do not need medical attention, but some of them can be serious. A small number of people being treated with this medicine have had thoughts of harming or killing themselves. Contact your doctor if your mood changes for the worse.

Before taking it, you should tell your doctor if you have kidney problems, depression, or suicidal thoughts and if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. Your doctor may suggest regular blood tests to monitor your kidney function while taking this medicine.

Uses of Acolev Tablet

Benefits of Acolev Tablet

In Treatment of Epilepsy/Seizures

Acolev 500mg Tablet belongs to a group of medicines called anticonvulsants (or anti-epileptics). It works by slowing down electrical signals in the brain which cause seizures (fits). This medicine can be used to control various types of seizures—myoclonic, partial-onset, and primary generalized tonic-clonic (or grand mal). It can also help reduce symptoms such as confusion, uncontrollable jerking movements, loss of awareness, and fear or anxiety. The medicine can allow you to do some activities that you would otherwise be forbidden or scared to do (such as swimming and driving). It can take a few weeks for this medicine to work (because the dose has to be increased slowly) and during this time you may still have seizures. You should continue taking it even if you feel well and are not having any seizures. Missing doses may trigger a seizure. Do not stop using this medicine until your doctor advises you.

Side effects of Acolev Tablet

Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them

Common side effects of Acolev

Sleepiness
Dizziness
Fatigue
Headache
Decreased appetite
Behavioral changes
Aggressive behavior
Irritation
Agitation
Nasal congestion (stuffy nose)
Infection
Convulsion
Nasopharyngitis (inflammation of the throat and nasal passages)
Nausea
Tremors
Vertigo
Lethargy

How to use Acolev Tablet

Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Acolev 500mg Tablet may be taken with or without food, but it is better to take it at a fixed time.

How Acolev Tablet works

Acolev 500mg Tablet is an antiepileptic medication. It works by attaching to specific sites (SV2A) on the surfaces of nerve cells. This suppresses the abnormal activity of the nerve cells in the brain and prevents the spread of electrical signals that cause seizures.

Safety advice

Alcohol

UNSAFE

It is unsafe to consume alcohol with Acolev 500mg Tablet.

Pregnancy

SAFE IF PRESCRIBED

Acolev 500mg Tablet is safe to use during pregnancy. Most studies have shown low or no risk to the developing baby.

Breast feeding

SAFE IF PRESCRIBED

Acolev 500mg Tablet is probably safe to use during breastfeeding. Limited human data suggests that the drug does not represent any significant risk to the baby.
Monitor the baby for sleepiness and adequate weight gain.

Driving

UNSAFE

Acolev 500mg Tablet may decrease alertness, affect your vision or make you feel sleepy and dizzy. Do not drive if these symptoms occur.

Kidney

CAUTION

Acolev 500mg Tablet should be used with caution in patients with kidney disease. Dose adjustment of Acolev 500mg Tablet may be needed. Please consult your doctor.

Liver

SAFE IF PRESCRIBED

Acolev 500mg Tablet is probably safe to use in patients with liver disease. Limited data available suggests that dose adjustment of Acolev 500mg Tablet may not be needed in these patients. Please consult your doctor.
However, a lower dose may be advised in patients with severe liver disease.

What if you forget to take Acolev Tablet?

If you miss a dose of Acolev 500mg Tablet, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule. Do not double the dose.

All substitutes

For informational purposes only. Consult a doctor before taking any medicines.

Acolev 500mg Tablet

₹6.62/Tablet

Keppra 500mg Tablet

Dr Reddy's Laboratories Ltd

₹14.1/tablet

113% costlier

Levroxa 500mg Tablet

Eris Lifesciences Ltd

₹14.54/tablet

120% costlier

Levecad 500 Tablet

Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd

₹11.3/tablet

71% costlier

Levera 500 Tablet

Intas Pharmaceuticals Ltd

₹14.07/tablet

113% costlier

Lircetam 500 Tablet

Leeford Healthcare Ltd

₹11.3/tablet

71% costlier

View all substitutes

Quick tips

Acolev 500mg Tablet should be taken regularly as directed by your doctor as missing doses can trigger seizures.
Make sure that you have sufficient amount of medicine present with you.
Some healthy tips to prevent seizures:
- Take a healthy diet along with regular exercise.
- Practice yoga every day.
- Get enough sleep at nighttime.
- Limit the use of screen time such as mobile/ laptop.
- Take your medication on time.
It may cause sleepiness or drowsiness. If this happens to you, do not drive or use machinery.
Do not stop using Acolev 500mg Tablet without talking to your doctor, even if you feel better.
Your doctor has prescribed Acolev 500mg Tablet to reduce the frequency of seizures.
Acolev 500mg Tablet should be taken at the same time every day to maintain consistent levels in your body.
Do not stop using Acolev 500mg Tablet without talking to your doctor, even if you feel better.
It may cause sleepiness or drowsiness. If this happens to you, do not drive or use machinery.
Avoid consuming alcohol when taking the Acolev 500mg Tablet as it may cause excessive drowsiness and calmness.
Inform your doctor if you have ever been diagnosed with kidney disease. The dose of your medicine may need to be adjusted.
Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to conceive or breastfeeding.
Acolev 500mg Tablet should be taken regularly as directed by your doctor as missing doses can trigger seizures.
Do not change the brand of your medicine and make sure that you have sufficient amount of medicine present with you.
Some healthy tips to prevent seizures:
- Take a healthy diet along with regular exercise.
- Practice yoga every day.
- Get enough sleep at nighttime.
- Limit the use of screen time such as mobile/ laptop.
- Take your medication on time.

Fact Box

Chemical Class

Pyrrolidinone & Acetamide Derivative

Habit Forming

Therapeutic Class

NEURO CNS

Action Class

Synaptic Vesicle 2A (SV2A) Protein Ligands- Antiepileptic Drugs (AEDs)

Interaction with drugs

Taking Acolev with any of the following medicines can modify the effect of either of them and cause some undesirable side effects

Carbamazepine (Oral Route) Moderate

Carbamazepine may reduce blood levels of Levetiracetam. Talk to your doctor if you experience blurred vision, uncontrolled eye movement, lack of muscle control, and drowsiness.

Fosphenytoin (Injection Route) Moderate

Fosphenytoin may reduce blood levels of Levetiracetam. Talk to your doctor if you experience blurred vision, uncontrolled eye movement, lack of muscle control, and drowsiness.

Methotrexate (Injection Route) Moderate

Concurrent use may cause a toxic rise in Methotrexate levels in the blood. Talk to your doctor if you notice any unusual symptoms.

Methotrexate (Oral Route) Moderate

Concurrent use may cause a toxic rise in Methotrexate levels in the blood. Talk to your doctor if you notice any unusual symptoms.

Phenytoin (Injection Route) Moderate

Phenytoin may reduce blood levels of Levetiracetam. Talk to your doctor if you experience blurred vision, uncontrolled eye movement, lack of muscle control, and drowsiness.

View all drug interactions

Patient concerns

She has problem of epilepsy from last two years

Dr. Rahul Yadav

Paediatrics

Hello, epilepsy and seizures cannot be treated online without physically examining the child and detailed history.

3-4 attack of strokes in 3 yrs nothing found in CT scan & EEG.these tests are done again after 3 months. But nothing found. Doctors prescribed me Oxetol 450 mg.doctor say course of medicine is 2-3 yrs.I drink and smoke addicted to drug I don't understand if the test show nothing then why strokes happens to me?

Dr. Vikas Sharma

Neurology

is it stroke or epilepsy; as u are on medicine for epilepsy

Hi I am suffering from epilepsy from the past 1.5 years but before that I have no issues with my health the symptoms are I will get vomiting sensation from evening & heavy body pains & fits will comes only in early morning from 4 & 5 am i will get un concious for about 20 or 30 minutes & I will bite my tongue & after that I will have heavy nerve pains for a day or two from 5 days I am taking encorte 500 tablets between day & night before that I used to take homeopathy treatment

Dr. Jyoti Kapoor Madan

Psychiatry

Epilepsy is a central nervous system disorder (neurological disorder) in which nerve cell activity in the brain becomes disrupted, causing seizures or periods of unusual behavior, sensations and sometimes loss of consciousness. Medicines for epilepsy are initially recommended for at least 3 years of seizure free interval but may continue longer depending on recurrence. Epileptic patient needs to carry a warning card or a medical emergency bracelet with identification details, his/ her epilepsy status and what people can do if fit occurs in public place.

FAQs

Can the use of Acolev 500mg Tablet cause sleepiness?

Yes, Acolev 500mg Tablet can make you feel sleepy. Therefore, during the initial phase of treatment, avoid driving, operating machinery, working at heights, or participating in potentially dangerous activities until you know how this medicine affects you.

Will the use of Acolev 500mg Tablet affect my fertility?

Acolev 500mg Tablet is not known to affect fertility in males or females. However, talk to your doctor if you are facing fertility issues during the treatment with this medicine.

I have gained weight since I started taking Acolev 500mg Tablet. Is it because of Acolev 500mg Tablet? What should I do?

Weight gain is an uncommon side effect of Acolev 500mg Tablet. However, the response may vary from person to person. To prevent weight gain you should take a healthy balanced diet, avoid snacking, cut down on high-calorie food items, include more vegetables and fruits in your diet, and exercise regularly. If you still have issues with your weight, consult your doctor.

How long does Acolev 500mg Tablet take to show its effect?

Acolev 500mg Tablet may take a few weeks to start working properly since the dose is increased slowly. Your seizures may continue until Acolev 500mg Tablet starts working completely.

For how long do I need to take Acolev 500mg Tablet?

You should continue to take Acolev 500mg Tablet for as long as your doctor advises you to. Do not stop taking it suddenly because this may increase the frequency of seizures which may be difficult to control.

Will I get addicted to Acolev 500mg Tablet if I use it for a long time?

No, Acolev 500mg Tablet is not habit-forming. No physical or psychological dependence has been reported with Acolev 500mg Tablet. Consult your doctor if you experience any side effects.

What symptoms can occur if someone takes an excess of Acolev 500mg Tablet?

Taking an excess of Acolev 500mg Tablet may cause sleepiness, agitation, aggression, a decrease of alertness, inhibition of breathing, and even a state of coma. In case of an overdose, immediate medical care should be provided to the patient in a nearby hospital.

How do I come off Acolev 500mg Tablet?

The dose of Acolev 500mg Tablet should be slowly reduced. You may have to take this medicine for a few months before you can stop it completely. Do not reduce the dose without asking your doctor. Inform your doctor if you get a serious side effect, such as a severe skin reaction. Your doctor may tell you to stop taking Acolev 500mg Tablet straight away, even if you have epilepsy.

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Tata 1mg's sole intention is to ensure that its consumers get information that is expert-reviewed, accurate and trustworthy. However, the information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of a qualified physician. The information provided here is for informational purposes only. This may not cover everything about particular health conditions, lab tests, medicines, all possible side effects, drug interactions, warnings, alerts, etc. Please consult your doctor and discuss all your queries related to any disease or medicine. We intend to support, not replace, the doctor-patient relationship.

References

Stahl SM, editor. Levetiracetam. In: Stahl's Essential Pschopharmacology: Prescriber's Guide. 5th ed. New York, New York: Cambridge University Press; 2014. pp. 333-36.
McNamara JO. Pharmacotherapy of the Epilepsies. In: Brunton LL, Chabner BA, Knollmann BC, editors. Goodman & Gilman’s: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 12th ed. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2011. p. 600.
Porters RJ, Meldrum BS. Antiseizure Drugs. In: Katzung BG, Masters SB, Trevor AJ, editors. Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. 11th ed. New Delhi, India: Tata McGraw Hill Education Private Limited; 2009. p. 411.
Briggs GG, Freeman RK, editors. A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk: Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health; 2015. p. 789.
Levetiracetam [FDA Label]. Smyrna, Georgia: UCB, Inc.; 1999 [revised Apr. 2017]. [Accessed 16 Jul. 2019] (online) Available from:
Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). [Accessed 25 Mar. 2019] (online) Available from:
Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®) [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; 2006. Levetiracetam. [Updated 2022 Nov 30]. [Accessed 08 Jul. 2023]. (online) Available from:
Levetiracetam [Package Insert]. Ahmedabad, Gujarat: Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd.; 2021. [Accessed 08 Jul. 2023]. (online) Available from:

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Country of origin: India

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