felbamate vs levetiracetam
Side-by-side comparison of felbamate and levetiracetam Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Felbatol
Keppra
Felbamate is a medicine used to treat seizures. It is usually only prescribed when other treatments haven't worked well enough due to the risk of serious side effects.
Levetiracetam is a medicine used to treat seizures. It helps control seizures in adults and children.
Felbamate treats partial seizures in adults, both with and without generalization. It is also used as an add-on treatment for seizures related to Lennox-Gastaut syndrome in children. Because of the risk of very serious side effects, you should only use this medicine if other treatments have not worked well enough.
Levetiracetam is used to treat partial-onset seizures in patients 1 month and older. It is also used with other medicines to treat myoclonic seizures in patients 12 years and older with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. Additionally, it treats primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in patients 6 years and older with idiopathic generalized epilepsy.
Felbamate is an anticonvulsant, meaning it helps to control seizures. The exact way it works in the brain is not fully understood. It is thought to affect certain chemicals in the brain that are involved in seizures.
Levetiracetam is an antiepileptic drug, but how it works is not fully known. It is thought to affect certain nerve signals in the brain. This helps to reduce seizures.
- • Loss of appetite
- • Vomiting
- • Trouble sleeping
- • Feeling sick to your stomach
- • Headache
- • Sleepiness
- • Weakness
- • Infection
- • Dizziness
- • Tiredness
- Seizure 345
- Medicine not working 251
- Convulsion 124
- Using the medicine for something it's not approved for 115
- Sleepiness 108
- Seizure 15,308
- Medicine not working 11,807
- Using medicine for unapproved purpose 8,947
- Tiredness 5,403
- Convulsion 4,080
Felbamate can cause a severe type of anemia called aplastic anemia. This condition is very serious and can be deadly. Because of this risk, felbamate should only be used if your epilepsy is very severe and other treatments have not worked. Felbamate can also cause liver failure. Talk to your doctor about these risks before starting felbamate.
Levetiracetam can cause behavior and mood changes, including psychotic symptoms and suicidal thoughts. Watch for new or worsening depression, suicidal thoughts, or unusual changes in mood or behavior. Levetiracetam can also cause sleepiness and fatigue, so be careful when driving or operating machinery. Serious skin reactions and allergic reactions are possible. Do not suddenly stop taking this medicine, as it can cause withdrawal seizures.
It is not known if felbamate can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if felbamate passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Levetiracetam levels in your blood may decrease during pregnancy, so your doctor may need to adjust your dose. There is a pregnancy registry for women who take antiepileptic drugs; you can enroll by calling 1-888-233-2334.
Also Compare — Nearby Drugs
Compare felbamate with
Compare levetiracetam with
How to Read This felbamate vs levetiracetam Comparison
felbamate is classified in the Anticonvulsant drug class, while levetiracetam sits within the Anticonvulsant class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, felbamate has 943 submissions while levetiracetam has 45,545. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between felbamate and levetiracetam — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.