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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What are the 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.
What are the side effects of Briviact (brivaracetam)?
Common Side Effects
- Drowsiness (16%)
- Dizziness (12%)
- Tiredness (9%)
- Nausea or vomiting (5%)
Other Side Effects
- Constipation
- Balance problems
- Feeling irritable
Serious Side Effects
- 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
Source: DailyMed
More on Briviact (brivaracetam) side effects
The following 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
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
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.
Frequently asked questions about Briviact (brivaracetam)
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Briviact (brivaracetam) dosage forms
Typical dosing 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?
What are alternatives to Briviact (brivaracetam)?
Focal aware (partial-onset) seizures in people ages 1 month and older
Add-on treatment for myoclonic seizures from juvenile myoclonic epilepsy in people ages 12 years and older
Add-on treatment for generalized tonic-clonic seizures in people ages 6 years and older
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References
Best studies we foundCenters for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Protect your child: Use the right tool to give the right dose.
Epilepsy Foundation. (2014). How long until seizure medicine works?
Kiriakopoulos, E. (n.d.). Focal aware seizures (simple partial seizures). Epilepsy Foundation.
Klein, P., et al. (2018). A review of the pharmacology and clinical efficacy of brivaracetam. Clinical Pharmacology.
Meador, K. J., et al. (2024). Time-course of drug-related psychiatric and behavioral treatment-emergent adverse events during brivaracetam treatment in adults with focal-onset seizures. Epilepsy & Behavior.
MedlinePlus. (2025). Prescription drug misuse.
Patel, S. I., et al. (2015). Management of epilepsy during pregnancy: An update. Therapeutic Advances in Neurological Disorders.
Steinhoff, B. J., et al. (2021). Behavioral adverse events with brivaracetam, levetiracetam, perampanel, and topiramate: A systematic review. Epilepsy & Behavior.
Surya, N., et al. (2024). Current role of brivaracetam in the management of epilepsy in adults and children: A systematic review. Cureus.
UCB, Inc. (2023). Briviact- brivaracetam tablet, film coated; Briviact- brivaracetam solution; Briviact- brivaracetam injection, suspension [package insert]. DailyMed.
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