Drug interactions
Levetiracetam + Primidone
Severity: Moderate
Levetiracetam and Primidone: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Primidone is metabolized to phenobarbital and is strongly sedating. With levetiracetam, additive drowsiness, dizziness and ataxia may occur, and the combination is also common in epilepsy treatment.
What this interaction means in plain words
Levetiracetam and Primidone can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Levetiracetam belongs to Central Nervous System; Primidone belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Additive central nervous system depression (pharmacodynamic).
What to do
Monitor for oversedation, ataxia and cognitive slowing, and introduce or change doses gradually. Adjust the primidone dose if sedation becomes troublesome.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Levetiracetam and Primidone, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Levetiracetam
Other interactions of Primidone
- Lorlatinib + Primidone Contraindicated
- Lurasidone + Primidone Contraindicated
- Primidone + Ranolazine Contraindicated
- Primidone + Sofosbuvir-velpatasvir-voxilaprevir Contraindicated
- Primidone + Voriconazole Contraindicated
- Abiraterone + Primidone Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Levetiracetam with Primidone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Levetiracetam and Primidone can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Primidone is metabolized to phenobarbital and is strongly sedating. With levetiracetam, additive drowsiness, dizziness and ataxia may occur, and the combination is also common in epilepsy treatment.
How serious is the interaction between Levetiracetam and Primidone?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor for oversedation, ataxia and cognitive slowing, and introduce or change doses gradually. Adjust the primidone dose if sedation becomes troublesome.
What other medicines interact with Levetiracetam?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Levetiracetam with, for example, Oliceridine, Opium tincture, Sodium oxybate. The full list is on the Levetiracetam page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
