why keppra is administered in 15 mins??

Editorial Team / Admin · Dec 23, 2017

Have you read the manufacturer's instructions for use?

KEPPRA injection should be administered as a 15-minute IV infusion.
KEPPRA injection may be mixed with the following diluents and antiepileptic drugs and may be stored in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) bags. The diluted solution should not be stored for more than 4 hours at controlled room temperature [15-30Â°C (59-86Â°F)]

See the preparation and administration directions here: Keppra Injection (Levetiracetam): Side Effects, Interactions, Warning, Dosage & Uses

brownbook · Dec 23, 2017

I was also curious, although I've never given keppra. I thought maybe the poster wanted to know what the urgency about within 15 minutes was.

I think it would be helpful if the manufacture warnings, usage, dosage, said why 15 minutes was critical. I always want to know why when I'm told, or read, "such and such must be done a certain way". And I remember to do it much more easily when I know why I am doing it.

All I could find was a comment about reconstituting ANY drug. "Some drugs must be stored in powder form because they rapidly lose their power once they are mixed in a solution." One can only assume this is keppra's "problem". And why some reconstituted drugs have to be refrigerated after reconstitution if they won't be used immediately, or it's a multi dose vial.

AJJKRN · Dec 23, 2017

Get familiar with pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and ye shall find your answer

Basic concepts of pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) modelling. - PubMed - NCBI

allnurses Guide · Dec 24, 2017

Research show that a faster infusion rate is not well tolerated as it raised the therapeutic serum levels too quickly .

Hppy

chare · Dec 24, 2017

Research show that a faster infusion rate is not well tolerated as it raised the therapeutic serum levels too quickly .
Hppy

Do you have source for this? I'm having a hard time grasping this.

allnurses Guide · Dec 25, 2017

Do you have source for this? I'm having a hard time grasping this.

I actually looked it up on the Keppra website let me see if I can find it a nd post the source. I think I googled the question Why is Keppra infused over 15 minutes?

here's the article - I didn't read the whole thing but there appears to be some cardiac abnormalities with faster infusion rates. I was confused by the original question because it appeared as if the OP wanted to know if it needed to be infused within 15 minutes of preparation rather than infused over a period of 15 minutes.

Levetiracetam Intravenous Infusion: A Randomized, Placebo-controlled Safety and Pharmacokinetic Study - Ramael - 2