Has anyone switched from Keppra XR brand to the Solco generic brand? Insurance is forcing us to switch our daughter who has been on name brand since she was 11. She is now 26.
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My son has always been (1 year ago) on Levetiracetam ER (generic for Keppra) with good results. No seizures since January 2024. Hope this helps.
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Hey Melissa,
My name is Merl, I’m a member of the Modsupport Team here on Ben’s Friends.
Firstly, I need to say I’m in Australia and although the health systems are somewhat different, when it comes to pharmaceuticals our systems are fairly parallel. We both have drug regulators, in the U.S. it’s the FDA and here it’s the Office of Drug Control, they set the amount of active ingredient that must be contained within a standard dose. This means that even in changing brands the active drug MUST be the same. Before my own health took a nosedive, I taught people with disabilities and ‘medication use’ training was a big part of my role. There is a list known as The 8 Rights of Medication Administration and I’d have to check each medication to confirm I had the right client with the right dose at the right time, etc, etc.
Now, in saying this, the ‘filler’ or the none active component can be varied. The medication itself is still standardized with the same dose of active, so in theory, does the same job BUT, that is not to say that the non-active component does not have an impact. I say this because I have had issues with the fillers myself. I take an opiate, the government program had me change brands, but the change messed with my digestive system. I was assured the medication was the same and sure the active ingredient certainly was, but the filler certainly wasn’t. I spoke to my pharmacists about this and although I pay extra for it, I get the brand that works best for me.
I would strongly recommend you speak to your pharmacist about the medications and any concerns you have regarding it. It is the pharmacist’s role to know about the medications they dispense and the interactions such substances may have.
I know that sometimes trying to get medicos to acknowledge ‘adverse effects’ can be difficult and for this reason I’d suggest you keep some sort of record or a diary. Often turning up to appointments and saying what has occurred can be taken as hearsay, where as having it documented ‘On Wednesday 23rd at 4pm she reported having symptoms X, Y and Z’ with the steps taken to manage also documented. Also try to keep a record of her activity at the time. Keeping a record can show any patterns of adverse effects and it also shows you are being proactive in her care and therefore less likely for it to be seen as hearsay.
Hope it helps
Merl from the Modsupport Team
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