Med suprise Keppra - Epilepsy Message Board

Travis from MN · 08-28-2006, 11:21 AM

When I had last months bottle of Keppra started (I lag a month, I have an extra month on the shelf) I noticed there was a change.

There now is a new mfgr. The new pills are DARKER in color, so they are not the "pale" tone they had always been. Also the "score" line is thinner, and the pill itself is smaller.

I then checked the NDC code and THAT had changed as well as the bottle size.

NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

Turns out thee was some change about where the pill is being made at or a corperate manuvering (Don't ask me, I'm just a patient!).

So if you notice the difference and become concerned DON'T BE. The NDC code change is only a slight change, that indicated a minor change acording to my pharmacist being the part of the number that changed was not a major jump.

He was suprised and glad that I noticed it; having two different colors in the same bottle is a slight give-away!! That was the open bottle they gave me; usually I am given a sealed bottle.

--Travis

frickin · 08-28-2006, 12:30 PM

I have my last month prescription sitting on my desk w/ the intention of hauling it to the pharmacy on Wed., when I call in the refill. Like you, I have a "bit" stocked, so when I noticed the difference this month I just pulled out a prior sealed bottle. I expected to hear it was imitation. I'm sure you've heard of the viagra imitation drugs made over the boarder.
Good to know it's safe.

Thanks!

neurowreck · 08-28-2006, 07:33 PM

True- always question changes in med colors/shapes....I was once given TegXR for regular Teg.....my dad almost got someone's asthma meds when he had just had surgery, and I was picking up his pain pills (and the tech asked me to verify the address- wrong on the package I got- and he blew it off- I drove around and made sure I got the right stuff).

A lot of US meds are made overseas. I found this out when getting some 'no prescription' antibiotics (for weekend use when I can tell something is brewing, and know what's worked before, then call the MD on Monday). The package had the US manufacturer on it, as well as written in English. Many come from SE Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. I've seen the same meds in places I've worked- same package, same color/shape of medication. They must run out of the same coloring lots, or decide to reshape them to avoid confusion with totally different medications that look very similar....

jerrytom · 08-31-2006, 07:35 AM

Hello Travis,

I noticed the same thing with Keppra. I talked to my pharmacicist and went to tha manufactures website. I found out that they changed the compound that binds Keppra with the filler. It used to be corn starch. Corn starch contains a lot of calories, it's a form of "corn sugar". They changed it to make Keppra more compatible with a diabetic diet. Some of us, like me, are lucky enough to have diabetes and epilepsy. I hope this answered your question. Jeff

SentenceDoing · 09-02-2006, 09:29 PM

I noticed the same thing a few months ago, but I never thought there could be an actual chemical change in the meds itself.
Thanks for the info!