Drug updated on 4/26/2024
| Dosage Form | Tablet (oral; 10 mg, 25 mg, 50 mg, 75 mg, 100 mg); solution (oral; 10 mg/mL); injection (intravenous; 50 mg/ 5 mL) |
| Drug Class | Anticonvulsants |
| Ongoing and Completed Studies | ClinicalTrials.gov |
Indication
- Indicated for the treatment of partial-onset seizures in patients 1 month of age and older.
Summary
- Brivaracetam (Briviact) is indicated for the treatment of partial-onset seizures in patients 1 month of age and older, demonstrating effectiveness in reducing seizure frequency when compared with placebo.
- The information about brivaracetam was derived from a total of 12 systematic reviews/meta-analyses studies that provided extensive data on its efficacy and safety profiles.
- Compared to other anti-seizure medications such as cenobamate, eslicarbazepine acetate, lacosamide, and perampanel; brivaracetam has shown a better tolerance profile despite having slightly lower efficacy in terms of ≥50% seizure frequency reduction.
- In the pediatric population suffering from epilepsy, brivaracetam has demonstrated promising results both as monotherapy and adjunct therapy, with a notable retention rate of 78%, indicating its positive role in pediatric care.
- For adults dealing with drug-resistant focal epilepsy, adding brivaracetam to their treatment may aid in reducing seizure frequency, but it is associated with a higher proportion of treatment withdrawals due to adverse events, which necessitates careful consideration.
- Brivaracetam also showed effectiveness against refractory focal-onset seizures, suggesting potential utility for managing difficult-to-treat types while no increased risk of suicidality was observed among newer anti-seizure medications, including this one, contrasting FDA-mandated warnings attributed to older ones.
- When used within the Korean context for treating focal epilepsy, third-generation AEDs, including brivaracetam, have shown better safety outcomes, implying a favorable risk-benefit profile across diverse populations.
- While there are unique considerations required for elderly patients due to the complex clinical picture they often present, requiring a balance between efficacy and risk factors; more research is needed on the use of Anti-Epileptic Drugs like brivaracetam within this demographic group according to their specific needs and conditions.
Product Monograph / Prescribing Information
| Document Title | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Briviact (brivaracetam) Prescribing Information. | 2023 | UCB, Inc., Smyrna, GA |
Systematic Reviews / Meta-Analyses
Clinical Practice Guidelines
| Document Title | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Epilepsies in children, young people and adults. | 2022 | NICE |
| Clinical guidelines for the management of epilepsy. | 2020 | The Epilepsy Research Program of the Ontario Brain institute |