Briviact (brivaracetam) is a brand-name oral tablet, oral liquid solution, and injectable liquid solution that’s prescribed for partial-onset seizures. As with other drugs, Briviact can cause side effects, such as sleepiness, dizziness, and fatigue.

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:

  • dizziness
  • fatigue
  • nausea and vomiting*
  • excessive sleepiness*

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.

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 Briviact’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. If you develop a side effect during treatment with Briviact and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.
† An allergic reaction is possible after taking or receiving Briviact. To learn more, see the “Side effect specifics” section below.

Briviact may cause serious side effects, although serious side effects aren’t common. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Briviact’s prescribing information.

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.

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

* An allergic reaction is possible after taking or receiving Briviact. To learn more, see the “Side effect specifics” section below.

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 seen with 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. This includes 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. However, 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 with Briviact, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help discuss your specific risk of side effects.

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 gain and memory loss have been reported in clinical trials of Lamictal (lamotrigine).

It’s also important to remember that Briviact is prescribed to manage partial-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.

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

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 Briviact 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 you.

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 drive safely.

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 treatment with Briviact. However, if your symptoms are serious and you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Suicide prevention

If you know someone at immediate risk of self-harm, suicide, or hurting another person:

  • Ask the tough question: “Are you considering suicide?”
  • Listen to the person without judgment.
  • Call 911 or the local emergency number, or text TALK to 741741 to communicate with a trained crisis counselor.
  • Stay with the person until professional help arrives.
  • Try to remove any weapons, medications, or other potentially harmful objects.

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, a prevention hotline can help. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day at 988. During a crisis, people who are hard of hearing can use their preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988.

Find more links and local resources.

Was this helpful?

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. The 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 been diagnosed with 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. They’ll likely want to monitor your condition more frequently during treatment. In some cases, they may prescribe a different treatment option for you.

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

Pregnancy or breastfeeding: If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding your child, Briviact may not be safe for you to take or receive. 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 may not be safe for you to take or receive. 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 you start Briviact. They’ll advise how much alcohol, if any, is safe for you to drink. For more details about Briviact and alcohol, see this article.

* 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 side effects from the drug.

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.