Why is Keppra and Dilantin given 1 hour apart?

My resident has an order that states "MAKE SURE KEPPRA AND DILANTIN ARE GIVEN 1 HOUR APART AND 1 HOUR SEPARATE FROM OTHER MEDS"

Why is this? Is it a drug interaction? Anyone know? Thanks!

[Lev, MSN, RN, NP]

Possibly risk of hypotension?

[Okami_CCRN, BSN, RN]

anti-epileptic medications tend to cause CNS depression, with some people being more sensitive than others. It could be that the physician wants to decrease this effect.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

You could always call the Pharmacy to ask.

I began my career in Neuro and I can tell you when we had patients actively seizing, we would start with Ativan, next step Fosphenytoin (IV Dilantin) then would proceed to either Keppra or Valproic Acid. We didn't wait an hour between infusing meds. If you're talking oral meds, these are given together all the time. It could be a specific sensitivity in this patient.

[AJJKRN]

I would be curious about ensuring optimal absorption without doing a google search :-)