Briviact: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects & Warnings

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# Briviact

Generic name: brivaracetam (oral/injection) [ BRIV-a-RA-se-tam ]
Drug class: Pyrrolidine anticonvulsants

Medically reviewed by Judith Stewart, BPharm. Last updated on Oct 5, 2021.

## What is Briviact?

Briviact is an anti-epileptic drug, also called an anticonvulsant.

Briviact is used to treat partial onset seizures in people with epilepsy.

Briviact is for use in adults and children who are at least 1 month of age.

## Warnings

Some people have thoughts about suicide while taking seizure medicine. Stay alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor.

## Before taking this medicine

You should not use Briviact if you are allergic to brivaracetam.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

- depression or other mood problems;

- suicidal thoughts or actions;

- liver disease; or

- alcoholism or drug addiction.

You may have thoughts about suicide while taking this medicine. Your doctor should check your progress at regular visits. Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms.

Follow your doctor's instructions about taking seizure medication if you are pregnant. Seizure control is very important during pregnancy, and having a seizure could harm both mother and baby. Do not start or stop taking this medicine without your doctor's advice, and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant.

If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry to track the effects of brivaracetam on the baby.

It may not be safe to breast-feed while using brivaracetam. Ask your doctor about any risk.

Briviact is not approved for use by anyone younger than 1 month of age.

Briviact pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings (more detail)

## How should I take Briviact?

Take Briviact exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Brivaracetam may be habit-forming. Misuse can cause addiction, overdose, or death. Selling or giving away this medicine is against the law.

Briviact injection is given as an infusion into a vein. A healthcare provider will give you this injection if you are unable to take the medicine by mouth.

Take Briviact oral with a full glass of water, with or without food.

Swallow the tablet whole and do not crush, chew, or break it.

Measure liquid medicine carefully. Use the dosing syringe provided, or use a medicine dose-measuring device (not a kitchen spoon).

Brivaracetam doses are based on weight in children. Your child's dose needs may change if the child gains or loses weight.

Do not stop using Briviact suddenly, even if you feel fine. Stopping suddenly may cause serious medical problems or increased seizures. Follow your doctor's instructions about tapering your dose.

Use all seizure medications as directed. Do not change your dose or dosing schedule without your doctor's advice. Tell your doctor if any of your medicines seem to stop working.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Do not allow the liquid medicine to freeze. Throw away unused liquid after 5 months.

Keep track of your medicine. Brivaracetam is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if anyone is using it improperly or without a prescription.

## Dosing information

Usual Adult Dose for Epilepsy:

Initial dose: 50 mg orally 2 times a day
-Based on individual patient tolerability and response, dose should be adjusted up or down
Maintenance dose: 25 mg to 100 mg orally twice a day based on clinical response and tolerability
Maximum dose: 200 mg/day
IV Administration:
-May be used when oral administration is temporarily not feasible
-Administer at the same dose and same frequency as oral formulations
-Experience with IV injection is limited to 4 consecutive days of treatment
Comments:
-When initiating therapy, gradual dose escalation is not required; following initiation, dose should be adjusted based on clinical response and tolerability.
-Tablets, oral solution and injection can be used interchangeably.
Use: For the treatment of partial-onset seizures

Usual Pediatric Dose for Epilepsy:

1 month to 16 years:
-Weight: Less than 11 kg: Initial dose: 0.75 to 1.5 mg/kg orally twice a day; Maintenance dose: 0.75 to 3 mg/kg orally twice a day
-Weight: 11 kg to less than 20 kg: Initial dose: 0.5 to 1.25 mg/kg orally twice a day; Maintenance dose: 0.5 to 2.5 mg/kg orally twice a day
-Weight: 20 kg to less than 50 kg: Initial dose: 0.5 to 1 mg/kg orally twice a day; Maintenance dose: 0.5 to 2 mg/kg orally twice a day
-Weight: 50 kg or greater: Initial dose: 25 to 50 mg orally twice a day; Maintenance dose: 25 to 100 mg orally twice a day
16 years of age and older:
Initial dose: 50 mg orally 2 times a day
Maintenance dose: 25 mg to 100 mg orally twice a day
IV Administration: May be used in patients 16 years or older when oral administration is temporarily not feasible
-Administer at the same dose and same frequency as oral formulations
-Experience with the IV injection is limited to 4 consecutive days of treatment
Comments:
-When initiating therapy, gradual dose escalation is not required; following initiation, dose should be adjusted based on clinical response and tolerability.
-Tablets, oral solution and injection can be used interchangeably.
Use: For the treatment of partial-onset seizures in patients 1 month or older

Detailed Briviact dosage information

## What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

## What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

## What to avoid

Avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how this medicine will affect you. Dizziness or severe drowsiness can cause falls or other accidents.

## Briviact side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Briviact: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor, such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

- severe dizziness or drowsiness;

- a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;

- loss of balance or coordination;

- unusual thoughts or behavior; or

- hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not real).

Common Briviact side effects may include:

- dizziness, drowsiness;

- nausea, vomiting; or

- feeling tired.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Briviact side effects (more detail)

## What other drugs will affect Briviact?

When you start or stop taking Briviact, your doctor may need to adjust the doses of any other medicines you take on a regular basis.

Other drugs may interact with brivaracetam, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your other medicines. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Briviact drug interactions (more detail)

## Where can I get more information?

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use Briviact only for the indication prescribed.

## Popular FAQ

## Is Briviact a controlled substance?

Yes, Briviact contains brivaracetam and is listed by the DEA as a Schedule V controlled substance, which means it has a low potential for abuse compared to other controlled substances. According to the manufacturer, there is no evidence of any physical dependence or withdrawal syndrome with Briviact based on clinical studies. You should avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how this medicine will affect you as it can cause drowsiness or dizziness.

## Will Briviact cause memory loss?

There is no evidence that Briviact will cause memory loss and in fact, research to date has shown very favorable effects of Briviact on cognition and behavior. One study showed a significant improvement in attention and executive functioning (this is a set of mental skills that include working memory, flexible thinking, and self-control) and self-reported improvements in concentration and comprehension in 43 patients with epilepsy that were followed for 25 weeks. There were no changes in reaction times, verbal memory, mood, and aggression scores.

## Can I drink alcohol while taking Briviact?

It is not recommended to drink alcohol while you are taking Briviact because Briviact can increase the negative effects of alcohol such as dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and difficulty concentrating. Some people may also find it difficult to make good decisions or find their physical coordination is impaired. Avoid or limit the use of alcohol to one small drink while you are taking Briviact.

## Is Briviact a seizure medication?

Yes. Briviact (brivaracetam) is an oral or injected prescription medicine used alone or with other seizure medicines to treat partial onset (focal) seizures in patients one month of age and older. Briviact seizure medicine is thought to work by reducing the frequency of partial-onset seizures by binding to synaptic vesicle protein 2A (SV2A) in the brain.

## Can Briviact cause depression?

Briviact can cause depression and other mood and behavior changes such as aggression, agitation or irritability, anger, anxiety, mood swings or a lack in interest in life. Like other antiepileptic medications Briviact can increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviors. If you are taking Briviact and you or others notice you seem depressed, anxious, or more irritable than usual, talk to your doctor.

## Does Briviact cause weight loss?

Briviact has not been reported to cause weight loss in clinical studies. Other seizures medicines, such as felbamate, topiramate, and zonisamide can lead to weight loss. Briviact may cause nausea or vomiting which may reduce your appetite. Briviact is approved to be used alone or with other seizure medicines by FDA for the treatment of partial-onset (focal) seizures in patients 1 month of age and older. Contact your doctor if you have concerns about weight loss with Briviact.

### More FAQ

- What is the difference between Briviact and Keppra?

## More about Briviact (brivaracetam)

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- During pregnancy
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- FDA approval history
- Drug class: pyrrolidine anticonvulsants
- Breastfeeding
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### Patient resources

- Advanced Reading
- Briviact (Brivaracetam Injection)
- Briviact (Brivaracetam Oral Solution)
- Briviact (Brivaracetam Tablets)

### Professional resources

- Prescribing Information

### Related treatment guides

- Seizures
- Epilepsy

## Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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