Keppra Use In Pregnancy & Lactation

Pregnancy: Post-marketing data from several prospective pregnancy registries have documented outcomes in over 1000 women exposed to levetiracetam monotherapy during the first trimester of pregnancy. Overall, these data do not suggest a substantial increase in the risk for major congenital malformations, although a teratogenic risk cannot be completely excluded. Therapy with multiple antiepileptic medicinal products is associated with a higher risk of congenital malformations than monotherapy and, therefore, monotherapy should be considered. Studies in animals have shown reproductive toxicity (see Pharmacology: Toxicology: Preclinical Safety Data under Actions).
Keppra is not recommended during pregnancy and in women of childbearing potential not using contraception unless clearly necessary.
Physiological changes during pregnancy may affect levetiracetam concentration. Decreased in levetiracetam plasma concentrations has been observed during pregnancy. This decrease is more pronounced during the third trimester (up to 60% of baseline concentration before pregnancy). Appropriate clinical management of pregnant women treated with levetiracetam should be ensured. Discontinuation of antiepileptic treatments may result in exacerbation of the disease which could be harmful to the mother and the foetus.
Lactation: Levetiracetam is excreted in human breast milk. Therefore, breast-feeding is not recommended.
However, if levetiracetam treatment is needed during breastfeeding, the benefit/risk of the treatment should be weighed considering the importance of breastfeeding.
Fertility: No impact on fertility was detected in animal studies (see Pharmacology: Toxicology: Preclinical Safety Data under Actions). No clinical data are available, potential risk for human is unknown.