Briviact
Briviact (brivaracetam) is used to treat partial-onset seizures (also known as focal onset aware seizures). It's approved for adults and children ages 1 month and older. This antiepileptic medication works by helping to calm brain activity. Briviact (brivaracetam) comes as a tablet and oral solution that you take by mouth twice a day. It also comes as an injection given into the vein (IV) by a healthcare professional when in the hospital. Side effects include drowsiness and dizziness. As of mid 2025, there's no generic version of this medication available.
What is Briviact (brivaracetam)?
What is Briviact (brivaracetam) used for?
How Briviact (brivaracetam) works
Briviact (brivaracetam) is an antiepileptic medication. It's not entirely clear how this medication works. But it's thought to calm your brain activity to stop seizures from happening.
Drug facts
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Risks and warnings for Briviact (brivaracetam)
Briviact (brivaracetam) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Suicidal thoughts or behavior
Antiepileptic medications like Briviact (brivaracetam) can raise your risk of having thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself. Watch for signs of new or worse depression and any unusual changes in mood, especially in the first few months of treatment.
Tell your prescriber if you or your loved ones notice any changes that are worrisome. Call 911 right away if you think about hurting yourself.
Drowsiness, fatigue, dizziness, and trouble with coordination
Briviact (brivaracetam) can make you feel sleepy, tired, or weak. It can also make you feel dizzy or have problems with balance, movement, and coordination. These side effects usually happen when you first start the medication. But they can also happen anytime during treatment.
Don't drive, use machines, or do anything else that needs your full attention until you know how Briviact (brivaracetam) affects you.
Unusual changes in mood, thoughts, or behavior
Briviact (brivaracetam) can sometimes cause changes in mood, thoughts, or behavior. These can include feeling more irritable, aggressive, angry, or anxious. You might also have a depressed mood or mood swings. Some people have also had hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren't real), felt paranoid, or behaved strangely.
If you notice any change in mood, thoughts, or behavior while taking Briviact (brivaracetam), tell your prescriber right away.
Severe allergic reaction
Briviact (brivaracetam) can sometimes cause an allergic reaction. Some people had swelling in the face, mouth, lips, tongue, or throat. You might also feel like your throat is tight or have trouble breathing, which can be dangerous. If you have any of these symptoms, stop taking Briviact (brivaracetam) and get medical help right away.
Withdrawal seizures
- Risk factors: Stopping Briviact (brivaracetam) suddenly
Don't stop taking Briviact (brivaracetam) without talking to your prescriber first. Stopping too suddenly can make your seizures come back. These seizures might happen more often or last longer, which can be dangerous.
If you need to stop taking Briviact (brivaracetam), your prescriber will help you do it safely. They'll usually lower your dose over time before you stop the medication completely.
Side effects of Briviact (brivaracetam)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Drowsiness (16%)
- Dizziness (12%)
- Tiredness (9%)
- Nausea or vomiting (5%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Constipation
- Balance problems
- Feeling irritable
Briviact (brivaracetam) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Unusual mood or behavior changes: acting aggressive; feeling upset or angry, anxiety; being restless; mood swings
- Thoughts of hurting yourself or suicide
- Severe allergic reaction: trouble breathing; swelling of the face, mouth, or throat
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The following Briviact (brivaracetam) side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Mood and behavior changes—anxiety, nervousness, confusion, hallucinations, irritability, hostility, thoughts of suicide or self-harm, worsening mood, feelings of depression
- Redness, blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, including inside the mouth
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
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Pros and cons of Briviact (brivaracetam)
Pros
- Can help control seizures if other medications aren't working well enough
- Usually don't need to check medication levels through blood draws
- Available as a tablet and liquid (for people who can't swallow pills)
Cons
- Need to take twice a day
- Might not be the best option if you have mood problems (e.g., depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder)
- Can make seizures come back if you stop taking it all of a sudden
Pharmacist tips for Briviact (brivaracetam)
- You can take Briviact (brivaracetam) with or without food. Food doesn't affect how well the medication works.
- Swallow Briviact (brivaracetam) tablets whole with water or other drink. Don't crush, cut, or chew the tablets. If you have trouble swallowing the tablet whole, ask your prescriber if you can switch to the oral solution form of the medication.
- You might have unusual changes in mood, thoughts, or behavior while taking Briviact (brivaracetam). If you notice anything that isn't usual or worrying, let your prescriber know. If you ever think about hurting yourself, call 911 right away.
- Briviact (brivaracetam) can make you feel drowsy, dizzy, and tired. Make sure you know how the medication affects you before driving or doing anything that you need to focus for.
- Don't stop taking Briviact (brivaracetam) without talking to your prescriber first. Stopping it too suddenly can make your seizures come back. Your prescriber will tell you how to stop it in a safe way.
Tips for the Briviact (brivaracetam) oral solution:
- Ask your pharmacist for a measuring device to measure out your dose. Don't use a household teaspoon or tablespoon because they might not give you the right dose.
- Keep the liquid bottle at room temperature. The medication is good for 5 months after you open the bottle. Make sure to write down the date when you first open it. After 5 months, throw the medication away, even if there's some medication left. Ask your pharmacist about how to dispose of expired or unused medication safely.
Common questions about Briviact (brivaracetam)
Yes, Briviact (brivaracetam) is a controlled substance. This means that it has a potential for misuse. There are special rules and laws from the government about how it can be prescribed and dispensed. Ask your prescriber or pharmacist if you have more questions about this.
Briviact (brivaracetam) has a few risks. It might make depression worse and raise the risk of having thoughts about suicide. Other side effects, like feeling sleepy or dizzy, might get better as your body gets used to the medication. Before starting Briviact (brivaracetam), tell your prescriber about your full medical history. Also, let them know if you have any side effects that bother or worry you. They can make sure the medication is safe for you.
Briviact (brivaracetam) and levetiracetam (Keppra) are both seizure medications that work in similar ways. But they have a few key differences. They both treat partial-onset seizures, but Keppra is also used for other types of seizures. There aren't studies that directly compare their side effects. But research shows that Briviact might be less likely to cause mood changes like anger or irritability. Briviact is also a controlled substance, whereas Keppra is not. So Briviact has more rules for how it’s prescribed and dispensed. Talk to your prescriber to compare the medications and see which is best for you.
Traces of Briviact (brivaracetam) can stay in your system for a few days after your last dose. This is based on the medication's half-life, which helps estimate how long it takes for the body to get rid of it. If you’re worried or have questions about how long Briviact (brivaracetam) stays in your body, ask your prescriber.
No, you shouldn't crush or cut the Briviact (brivaracetam) tablets. If you have trouble swallowing them whole, ask your prescriber about your options. They can switch you to the liquid version of the medication.
Not likely. In studies, people taking Briviact (brivaracetam) didn't report weight gain. This is different from some other seizure medications that can cause weight gain. If you notice weight gain while taking Briviact (brivaracetam), talk to your prescriber or primary care provider. They can help figure out what's going on and give you tips to manage it.
In general, it can take a few months of taking Briviact (brivaracetam) every day to have fewer seizures. Some people in studies noticed a difference even after the first day. But keep in mind that everyone is different. It's important to keep taking Briviact (brivaracetam) every day, even if you don't see changes right away. Don't stop taking it suddenly because your seizures could come back and get worse. Talk to your prescriber if you have questions about how long it's taking to work for you.
Tell your prescriber if you're pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant. There isn't enough research to know if this medication is safe during pregnancy. But it's very important to keep your seizures under control. Your prescriber will talk with you about the risks and benefits and help decide if Briviact (brivaracetam) is the right choice for you. They might also suggest other safe options. If you decide to keep taking Briviact (brivaracetam) while pregnant, you're encouraged to join the North American Antiepileptic Drug (NAAED) Pregnancy Registry. This program helps researchers learn more about how seizure medications are during pregnancy.
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Briviact (brivaracetam) dosage
Bottle of oral solution| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 300ml of 10mg/ml | 1 bottle | $1,416.94 | $1,416.94 |
Typical dosage for Briviact (brivaracetam)
- People 16 years and older: The typical starting dose is 50 mg by mouth twice a day. The maximum dose is 100 mg twice a day.
- Children under 16 years old: The prescriber will find the right dose based on your child's body weight. The recommended dose is taken by mouth twice a day.
- Weigh 50 kg (110 lbs) or more: The typical dose ranges from 25 mg to 100 mg by mouth twice a day.
- Weigh 20 kg to less than 50 kg (44 lbs to less than 110 lbs): The typical dose ranges from 0.5 mg/kg to 2 mg/kg by mouth twice a day.
- Weigh 11 kg to less than 20 kg (24 lbs to less than 44 lbs): The typical dose ranges from 0.5 mg/kg to 2.5 mg/kg by mouth twice a day.
- Weigh less than 11 kg (24 lbs): The typical dose ranges from 0.75 mg/kg to 3 mg/kg by mouth twice a day.
Briviact (brivaracetam) is also available as an injection that's given into the vein (IV). It's given by a healthcare professional at a medical center. It's usually used when you can't take medications by mouth for a short time.
Your dose might differ if you have liver problems or if you take rifampin (Rifadin).
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How much does Briviact (brivaracetam) cost?
$709.73
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