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Briviact Uses, Dosage, Side Effects & Warnings
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 Sep 25, 2023.
What is Briviact?
Briviact is an anti-epileptic drug, also called an anticonvulsant.
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.
• liver disease; or
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
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Briviact: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects & Warnings https://www.drugs.com/briviact.html
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.
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
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Briviact: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects & Warnings https://www.drugs.com/briviact.html
Dosing information
Usual Adult Dose for Epilepsy:
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.
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
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Briviact: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects & Warnings https://www.drugs.com/briviact.html
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.
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.
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.
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Briviact: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects & Warnings https://www.drugs.com/briviact.html
• 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.
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.
Popular FAQ
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.
It is not recommended to drink alcohol while you are taking Briviact because Briviact can increase the
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Briviact: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects & Warnings https://www.drugs.com/briviact.html
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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Briviact: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects & Warnings https://www.drugs.com/briviact.html
Further 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.
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to
your personal circumstances.
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