Key takeaways

  • Briviact (brivaracetam) is a brand-name drug prescribed for focal onset seizure, also known as partial onset seizure in adults and children over 1 month old. It’s available as an oral tablet, an oral liquid solution, and an injectable liquid solution.
  • Common side effects of Briviact include sleepiness and dizziness. Serious side effects such as mood changes and suicidal thoughts are also possible, requiring immediate medical attention.
  • Briviact can interact with other medications like rifampin and carbamazepine, potentially altering their levels in the body, so it’s important to discuss all the medications you take with a doctor before starting Briviact.

Briviact can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took or received Briviact in clinical trials:

* For more information, see “Side effect specifics.”

Mild side effects can occur with Briviact. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to the drug’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects that have been reported with Briviact include:

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medications safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect during Briviact treatment and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

* For more information, see “Side effect specifics.”

Although it’s not common, Briviact may cause serious side effects. The following list may not include all possible serious side effects of this drug. For more information, you can refer to Briviact’s prescribing information.

Serious side effects that have been reported and their symptoms include:

If you develop serious side effects during treatment with Briviact, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

* For more information, see “Side effect specifics.”

Briviact may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers.

How do side effects of Briviact compare with those of Keppra?

Briviact and Keppra (levetiracetam) are both seizure medications. However, they contain different active drugs and may affect the body differently. For this reason, some side effects may be similar, while others may be different.

For example, both drugs may cause sleepiness, dizziness, and mood changes. However, Keppra may also cause infection and increased bruising, which aren’t side effects of Briviact.

In addition, certain side effects have been reported with Briviact and not Keppra. These include nausea and vomiting.

For a more detailed comparison of the possible side effects between Briviact and Keppra, talk with your doctor. They’ll determine the best treatment option for you.

Does Briviact cause long-term side effects?

Yes, long-term side effects are possible with Briviact, but they aren’t common.

Briviact can cause changes in mood or behavior, such as depression, anxiety, and irritability. These side effects may continue even after stopping treatment with Briviact.

If you have concerns about long-term side effects from this medication, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can discuss your specific risk of side effects with you.

Can Briviact cause weight gain or memory loss?

No, Briviact isn’t expected to cause weight gain or memory loss. Neither of these side effects occurred in the drug’s clinical trials.

However, certain other seizure medications may cause these side effects. For example, both weight changes and memory loss have been reported in clinical trials of lamotrigine (Lamictal).

It’s also important to remember that Briviact is prescribed to manage focal onset seizures, and some seizure disorders may cause memory loss.

If you experience unusual weight gain or memory loss during treatment with Briviact, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Can Briviact cause hair loss?

No, Briviact isn’t expected to cause hair loss. This side effect was not reported during the drug’s clinical trials.

If you experience hair loss or thinning during Briviact treatment, talk with your doctor. They can help determine the cause and may be able to recommend ways to help manage hair loss.

Learn more about some of the side effects Briviact may cause. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the drug’s prescribing information.

Nausea and vomiting

Briviact may cause nausea and vomiting. These were among the most common side effects reported in the drug’s clinical trials. Reported cases of nausea and vomiting were typically mild. In many cases, these side effects eased on their own in a few days to weeks.

What you can do

To help prevent nausea, your doctor may recommend taking your dose of Briviact with food.

If you experience nausea or vomiting during treatment with Briviact, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can determine whether the medication is causing it and suggest other ways to manage it.

If your symptoms are bothersome or severe, you and your doctor can discuss different treatment options for your focal onset seizures.

Sleepiness

Briviact is a type of anticonvulsant. Because of the way the drug works, it may cause excessive sleepiness. In Briviact’s clinical trials, this was one of the most commonly reported side effects. Excessive sleepiness may be more common at higher doses of the drug.

What you can do

Briviact’s manufacturer recommends that you avoid driving or operating other heavy machinery until you know how this drug may affect you. This is because excessive sleepiness may affect your ability to be alert and safely drive or operate machinery.

If your sleepiness is bothersome or severe, talk with your doctor. They may prescribe a lower dose of Briviact to help manage this side effect.

Allergic reaction

As with most drugs, Briviact can cause an allergic reaction in some people. In clinical trials, this side effect was rare.

Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:

  • skin rash
  • itching
  • flushing
  • swelling under your skin — typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

What you can do

For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, call your doctor right away. They may recommend ways to ease your symptoms and determine whether you should continue Briviact treatment. However, if your symptoms are serious and you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Help is out there

If you or someone you know is in crisis and considering suicide or self-harm, please seek support:

  • Call or text the 988 Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. Caring counselors are available to listen and provide free and confidential support 24/7.
  • Text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 to connect with a volunteer crisis counselor for free and confidential support 24/7.
  • Not in the United States? Find a helpline in your country with Befrienders Worldwide.
  • Call 911 or your local emergency services number if you feel safe to do so.

If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, stay with them until help arrives. You may remove weapons or substances that can cause harm if you can do so safely.

If you’re not in the same household, stay on the phone with them until help arrives.

Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before you start Briviact. This drug may not be the right treatment option for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. These are considered drug-condition or drug-factor interactions. Conditions and factors to consider include:

Depression or another mood disorder: Before you start Briviact, talk with your doctor about your mental health history. This includes whether you’ve ever received a diagnosis of depression or another mood disorder. Briviact may cause serious mood changes, including depression. It may also increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviors.

If you have a history of these conditions, you may have a higher risk of these side effects from Briviact. Your doctor may monitor your mood more frequently during treatment. In some cases, they may recommend a different treatment option for you.

Liver problems: If you have a liver problem, talk with your doctor before you start Briviact. This medication is metabolized (broken down) in your body by the liver. If you have liver damage, your body may have a hard time removing Briviact from your system. This can cause the drug to build up in your body, which increases the risk of side effects. If you have a liver problem, your doctor may recommend a lower dose of Briviact for you.

Substance misuse: Briviact is a controlled substance, which means it carries risks of misuse and dependence.* If you’ve ever misused drugs or alcohol in the past, you may have a higher risk of this side effect. If you have a history of substance misuse, it’s important to talk with your doctor before they prescribe Briviact for you. They’ll likely want to monitor your condition more frequently during treatment. In some cases, they may prescribe a different treatment for your focal onset seizures.

Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Briviact or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Briviact for you. Ask them about other medications that may be better options for you.

Pregnancy or breastfeeding: If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding a child, Briviact may not be safe. This drug has been shown to pass into breast milk. It’s not clear how it may affect a developing fetus or a child who’s breastfed.

If you become pregnant during treatment with Briviact, talk with your doctor right away. They’ll let you know about the potential risks of continuing treatment with Briviact. If you and your doctor agree that the benefits outweigh the potential risks, consider signing up for the drug’s pregnancy registry. The purpose of a pregnancy registry is to collect data on the side effects of a drug when taken or received during pregnancy.

You or your doctor can enroll you in the North American Antiepileptic Drug Pregnancy Registry by calling 888-233-2334 or by visiting the program website.

If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning for either, talk with your doctor. They will determine the safest treatment option for you.

Alcohol consumption: If you drink alcohol, Briviact treatment may not be safe for you. Alcohol can increase your risk of side effects from Briviact, such as dizziness or excessive sleepiness. If you drink alcohol, be sure to talk with your doctor before starting this medication. They’ll advise how much alcohol, if any, is safe for you to drink. For more details about Briviact and alcohol, see this Briviact interactions article.

Stopping Briviact: You should not suddenly stop taking Briviact, as this can increase your risk of seizures. Before stopping your treatment, your doctor may lower your dosage slowly over time to help your body adjust.

* A controlled substance is a drug the government regulates due to the risks of misuse and dependence. Misuse refers to taking a drug in a way other than how a doctor prescribes it. And with dependence, your body needs a drug to feel as it typically would.

If you’d like to learn more about Briviact, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about the side effects of this medication.

Besides talking with your doctor, you can do some research on your own. These articles might help:

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.