Comprehensive medication guide to Spritam including estimated pricing, availability information, side effects, and how to find it in stock at your local pharmacy.
Estimated Insurance Pricing
$10–$200 copay depending on tier placement; some commercial plans cover Spritam at Tier 2–3 with prior authorization; the SPRITAM Serve copay card can reduce insured patient cost to as low as $10/month. Not covered by Medicare Part D as a preferred tier; standard generic levetiracetam is typically $0–$15 on Part D.
Estimated Cash Pricing
$639–$690 retail for brand Spritam (60 tablets, 30-day supply, all strengths); as low as $10–$75/month with the SPRITAM Serve savings program for eligible commercially insured or uninsured patients.
Medfinder Findability Score
48/100
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Spritam is the brand name for levetiracetam tablets for oral suspension — and it holds a unique distinction in pharmaceutical history: it is the world's first FDA-approved 3D-printed prescription drug. Approved by the FDA in August 2015 and launched in the US in March 2016, Spritam is manufactured by Aprecia Pharmaceuticals using their proprietary ZipDose® technology.
Spritam is an antiepileptic medication approved for three types of seizure disorders: partial-onset seizures in patients 4 years and older (weighing more than 20 kg), myoclonic seizures in patients 12 and older with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, and primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in patients 6 and older with idiopathic generalized epilepsy. It comes in four strengths: 250 mg, 500 mg, 750 mg, and 1000 mg — all as round, white to off-white, spearmint-flavored tablets.
The defining feature of Spritam is its ZipDose 3D printing technology, which creates a highly porous tablet structure that disintegrates in approximately 11 seconds when placed on the tongue with a sip of liquid — far faster than conventional levetiracetam tablets (up to 60 seconds). This makes Spritam ideal for patients with dysphagia, children who cannot swallow large tablets, and patients on nasogastric or gastrostomy tube feeds.
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Spritam works by binding to SV2A (Synaptic Vesicle Protein 2A), a protein found on vesicles inside nerve terminals. These vesicles carry neurotransmitters — the chemical messengers neurons use to communicate. SV2A plays a key role in regulating vesicle release; by binding to it, levetiracetam modulates how neurons release neurotransmitters, reducing the ability of neurons to sustain the rapid, synchronized firing patterns that cause seizures.
This SV2A mechanism is genuinely novel and distinct from older antiepileptic drugs, which typically work by blocking sodium channels (carbamazepine, phenytoin) or modulating GABA signaling (benzodiazepines, valproate). Levetiracetam's unique mechanism, combined with its minimal liver metabolism and low drug interaction profile, makes it one of the most widely prescribed modern antiepileptic drugs.
The ZipDose 3D printing technology does not change how levetiracetam works in the body — it changes how it's delivered. The porous tablet structure, created by a binder jetting process without tablet compression, allows the drug to disintegrate in about 11 seconds with a sip of liquid. Once swallowed, absorption is rapid and equivalent to standard levetiracetam tablets. The FDA confirmed bioequivalence between Spritam and Keppra IR.
250 mg — tablet for oral suspension
Lowest available strength; spearmint-flavored; used for lower doses or as building block for prescribed dose
500 mg — tablet for oral suspension
Most common starting dose for adult partial-onset seizures (500 mg twice daily)
750 mg — tablet for oral suspension
Intermediate strength for titration flexibility
1000 mg — tablet for oral suspension
Highest single-tablet dose; enables high-dose treatment (up to 3000 mg/day) with fewer tablets via 3D printing technology
medfinder gives Spritam a findability score of 48/100 — meaning patients frequently encounter difficulty filling prescriptions at retail pharmacies. Spritam is not on the FDA's official drug shortage list, but it is a specialty medication with limited retail pharmacy distribution. Most large chain pharmacies (CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid) do not routinely stock it because Spritam's prescription volume per location is insufficient to justify regular inventory.
Patients most reliably fill Spritam at specialty pharmacies, hospital-affiliated outpatient pharmacies, and mail-order channels including Blink Health (844-SPRITAM) and HealthWarehouse.com. The SPRITAM Serve savings program also routes eligible patients through verified specialty pharmacy channels. medfinder calls pharmacies near you to check who has Spritam in stock, then texts you the results — saving hours of manual searching.
An authorized generic (Levetiracetam Tablets for Oral Suspension by Prasco Laboratories) is the exact same product from the same Aprecia facility, which theoretically expands availability. However, it is distributed through similar channels and may be equally difficult to find at standard retail pharmacies. Patients should start their search at least 7–10 days before running out and consider establishing a relationship with a reliable specialty or mail-order pharmacy.
Spritam (levetiracetam) is not a DEA-controlled substance, which means any licensed healthcare provider with prescribing authority in the United States can write a Spritam prescription. There are no DEA registration requirements, no federal in-person visit mandates, and no quantity restrictions. This is a significant advantage for patient access compared to Schedule V medications like brivaracetam or lacosamide.
The following provider types commonly prescribe Spritam:
Neurologists and Epileptologists (most common for initial Spritam selection)
Pediatric Neurologists (for children ages 4 and older with epilepsy)
Primary Care Physicians (for established patients on maintenance therapy)
Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants (in all 50 states with full prescribing authority)
Telehealth availability: Because Spritam is not a controlled substance, it can be prescribed via telehealth without any mandatory in-person visit requirements. Telehealth neurology services, epilepsy-focused telehealth platforms, and primary care telehealth providers can all prescribe and refill Spritam remotely. New epilepsy diagnoses typically still require in-person evaluation with EEG and neuroimaging before initiating therapy.
No. Spritam (levetiracetam) is not a DEA-scheduled controlled substance. This is a meaningful clinical advantage compared to some other antiepileptic and neurological medications. Because it is not scheduled, there are no DEA registration requirements for prescribers, no federal restrictions on prescription quantities or refills, and no mandatory in-person visit requirements. Any licensed healthcare provider — including primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants — can prescribe Spritam in all 50 states without special DEA authorization.
Additionally, Spritam can be prescribed via telehealth without mandatory in-person visit requirements. Telehealth neurology services can manage ongoing epilepsy care and provide Spritam prescriptions remotely. Levetiracetam has no known abuse potential or physical dependence profile. This non-controlled status also means pharmacy ordering, storage, and dispensing are not subject to DEA quota restrictions — though Spritam's specialty distribution still limits which pharmacies stock it routinely.
In adults, the most common side effects (occurring at least 5% more often than placebo) include:
Somnolence (sleepiness) — 15% of adult patients
Asthenia (weakness and fatigue)
Infection (upper respiratory)
Dizziness
Coordination difficulties / ataxia (3.4%)
In children, the most common side effects include fatigue, aggression, nasal congestion, decreased appetite, and irritability.
Suicidal ideation — class-wide FDA warning for all antiepileptic drugs
DRESS (Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms) — FDA alert issued December 2023; potentially life-threatening
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome / Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis — rare severe skin reactions; onset typically 14–17 days
Anaphylaxis / angioedema — severe allergic reaction; can occur at any time during treatment
Behavioral and psychiatric changes — aggression, psychosis (0.3%), depression, behavioral worsening
Hematologic abnormalities — decreased WBC, RBC, neutrophil counts; rare cases of agranulocytosis
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Keppra (levetiracetam)
Same active ingredient as Spritam in conventional compressed tablet form. Widely available as an inexpensive generic ($6–$7/month with coupons). Bioequivalent to Spritam but does not dissolve rapidly — not suitable for patients who need the rapid-dissolve feature.
Levetiracetam Oral Solution
Same active ingredient as Spritam in liquid form (100 mg/mL). Suitable for patients who cannot swallow any tablet, including those on tube feeds. Widely available as a generic and significantly less expensive.
Briviact (brivaracetam)
Next-generation SV2A binder with 15-30x higher receptor affinity than levetiracetam. May have fewer psychiatric/behavioral side effects. DEA Schedule V; brand only (generic oral solution approved 2026). Hard to find at many pharmacies.
Vimpat (lacosamide)
Enhances slow inactivation of voltage-gated sodium channels. FDA-approved for focal and generalized tonic-clonic seizures. DEA Schedule V; available as tablets, oral solution, and IV. Generic available.
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CNS Depressants (opioids, benzodiazepines, alcohol, sedative-hypnotics)
majorAdditive CNS depression when combined with levetiracetam. Can cause excessive sedation, impaired coordination, and in severe cases respiratory depression. Use with extreme caution; dose reductions may be needed.
Deferiprone
majorBoth levetiracetam and deferiprone can cause neutropenia. Combination increases myelosuppression risk synergistically. Avoid combination if possible; monitor CBC closely if co-administration is unavoidable.
Tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline, nortriptyline)
moderateAdditive CNS sedation. TCAs also lower the seizure threshold, which is clinically relevant for epilepsy patients. Monitor for excessive sedation.
Antipsychotics (quetiapine, olanzapine, aripiprazole)
moderateAdditive CNS sedation. Some antipsychotics also lower the seizure threshold. Monitor carefully when combining.
Enzyme-inducing AEDs (carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital)
minorMay slightly increase levetiracetam clearance, potentially reducing blood levels modestly. Clinical significance is typically minimal and dose adjustment is rarely needed.
Spritam represents a genuine pharmaceutical innovation — the world's first 3D-printed drug, offering a rapid-dissolve formulation of levetiracetam that addresses a real clinical need for patients who struggle with conventional tablets. For the right patient (dysphagia, pediatric cases, tube feeding), Spritam delivers meaningful clinical value. Its non-controlled status makes prescribing and refill logistics straightforward.
The main challenge Spritam patients face is availability — not a manufacturing shortage, but a structural distribution gap. Most chain pharmacies don't routinely stock it. Specialty pharmacies, Blink Health (844-SPRITAM), and HealthWarehouse.com are the most reliable sources. The SPRITAM Serve savings program can bring the cost down to as little as $10/month for eligible commercially insured and uninsured patients. Start the refill search early — at least 7–10 days before running out.
If you're struggling to find Spritam at a pharmacy near you, medfinder calls pharmacies in your area to check current stock and texts you the results. No more calling pharmacy after pharmacy — find your medication faster and spend more time focused on your health and seizure management.
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Our medication guides are researched and written to help patients make informed decisions. All content is reviewed for accuracy and updated regularly. Learn more about our standards
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