Levetiracetam (IV loading) Pediatric Dose Calculator
Weight-based levetiracetam dosing for children — 40–60 mg/kg/dose · single IV infusion over 5 minutes · max 3 g/dose. Enter age and weight for the dose in mg and injection volume.
Pediatric dosing
Established convulsive status epilepticus — second line (after two benzodiazepine doses) Emergency
Levetiracetam (IV loading) dose chart by age and weight
Established convulsive status epilepticus — second line (after two benzodiazepine doses). Weights are WHO/IAP reference medians for age — always dose on the measured weight.
| Age | Weight | Dose (mg) | Injection 100 mg/mL (500 mg/5 mL) — dilute in saline before infusion | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | 4.3 kg | 172 mg | 1.7 mL | Single IV infusion over 5 minutes |
| 3 months | 6.1 kg | 244 mg | 2.4 mL | Single IV infusion over 5 minutes |
| 6 months | 7.6 kg | 304 mg | 3 mL | Single IV infusion over 5 minutes |
| 9 months | 8.6 kg | 344 mg | 3.4 mL | Single IV infusion over 5 minutes |
| 1 year | 9.3 kg | 372 mg | 3.7 mL | Single IV infusion over 5 minutes |
| 18 months | 10.6 kg | 424 mg | 4.2 mL | Single IV infusion over 5 minutes |
| 2 years | 11.8 kg | 472 mg | 4.7 mL | Single IV infusion over 5 minutes |
| 3 years | 14.1 kg | 564 mg | 5.6 mL | Single IV infusion over 5 minutes |
| 4 years | 16.2 kg | 648 mg | 6.5 mL | Single IV infusion over 5 minutes |
| 5 years | 17.5 kg | 700 mg | 7 mL | Single IV infusion over 5 minutes |
| 6 years | 19 kg | 760 mg | 7.6 mL | Single IV infusion over 5 minutes |
| 8 years | 24.4 kg | 976 mg | 9.8 mL | Single IV infusion over 5 minutes |
| 10 years | 31.1 kg | 1244 mg | 12.5 mL | Single IV infusion over 5 minutes |
| 12 years | 39.4 kg | 1576 mg | 16 mL | Single IV infusion over 5 minutes |
Strengths in the calculator
- Injection 100 mg/mL (500 mg/5 mL) — dilute in saline before infusion (Intravenous)
Different strength on your bottle? Use “Different strength on the bottle?” under the result.
Safety
Contraindications and cautions
- Reduce maintenance doses in renal impairment (loading dose unchanged).
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Legacy FDA category C. Among the lowest-risk antiseizure medicines in pregnancy; treat status epilepticus without delay.
Compatible; monitor the infant for sedation.
Clinical notes
Well tolerated: no cardiac monitoring needed, unlike phenytoin. Maintenance dosing is started by the neurology team.
Adult and adolescent (≥40 kg) dose
40–60 mg/kg (max 3–4.5 g) as a single IV infusion — Single loading dose (max 4500 mg per dose).
Other names and brands
Also known as LEV.
- India: Levipil
- USA: Keppra
- UK: Keppra
Brand examples only — products and strengths vary by country. Always check the label.
Frequently asked questions
What is the levetiracetam dose for children?
Established convulsive status epilepticus — second line (after two benzodiazepine doses): 40–60 mg/kg/dose · single IV infusion over 5 minutes · max 3 g/dose. Usual duration: Single loading dose. Always use the child's measured weight and check the strength on the bottle.
How many mL of injection 100 mg/mL (500 mg/5 mL) — dilute in saline before infusion for an 11.8 kg child?
For established convulsive status epilepticus — second line (after two benzodiazepine doses), an 11.8 kg child (about 2 years) needs 472 mg per dose — 4.7 mL of Injection 100 mg/mL (500 mg/5 mL) — dilute in saline before infusion, single IV infusion over 5 minutes. Recalculate with the child's actual weight.
From what age can levetiracetam be given?
Age range in PediaRx: ≥1 month (emergency). The calculator does not calculate a dose below 1 month. Each indication can have its own age and weight limits, shown with its regimen.
Is levetiracetam safe in pregnancy?
Legacy FDA category C. Among the lowest-risk antiseizure medicines in pregnancy; treat status epilepticus without delay.
Sources and editorial process
- Epilepsies in children, young people and adults (NG217, 2022) — treating convulsive status epilepticus — National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
- Randomized trial of three anticonvulsant medications for status epilepticus (ESETT; Kapur et al., N Engl J Med 2019) — New England Journal of Medicine
Dosing data last updated 2026-10-01. PediaRx is built and maintained by Dr. Shounak Pal, MBBS (Medical Officer, Government of West Bengal, India — founder and developer of PediaRx). Every regimen is encoded with explicit units, maximum doses and age/weight limits and is checked by automated tests before publication. Report an error: hello@pediarx.com.
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Clinical disclaimer: reference tool for qualified health professionals. Verify every dose against current guidance and the product label before prescribing.
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