About
Brivaracetam is a newer anti-seizure medication that is used for the treatment of focal and generalised seizures. It can only be used as an additional treatment along with other anti-seizure medications.
- Brivaracetam is taken twice daily at approximately the same time of day. It can be taken with or without food.
- Brivaracetam comes as a liquid or a tablet. It is best to swallow the tablets whole, but they can also be crushed, if necessary, as advised by your doctor.
Side effects
All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Side effects are usually experienced when the medication is first started, or when the dose is increased and usually settle down with time.
Possible side effects include:
- Drowsiness, feeling tired
- Feeling upset or irritable
- Dizziness or headache
- Feeling sick (nausea), diarrhoea or constipation
- Difficulty sleeping/anxiety
- Behavioural difficulties
More medically serious side effects
- Allergic reaction that may cause difficulty with breathing
- Abnormal blood count (low white blood cells)
- Changes in mood that may lead to aggression or abnormal behaviour
- Very rarely suicidal ideation
These are not all the side effects that may occur. Call your doctor or get medical help if the side effects bother your child or do not go away. Emergency assistance may be required if your child experiences any of the more serious side effects.
Interactions
Other medications including other anti-epileptics may interact with brivaracetam and alter its levels in the blood. Brivaracetam can also change the level of other medications in the blood so always tell your doctor that your child is taking brivaracetam. It is also important that you tell your doctor if you are giving your child herbal or complementary medicines. The doctor can check to make sure they are compatible.
Brivaracetam and levetiracetam (Keppra) cannot be taken at the same time.
Need-to-know
Brivaracetam cannot be stopped suddenly – withdrawal of the medication needs to be supervised by your doctor.
Monitoring and medication levels
Your doctor may do a blood test to check the blood counts a few weeks after you start the medication. However, once the patient is stable on brivaracetam, ongoing blood tests are usually not required.
Pregnancy and contraception
As Brivaracetam is one of the newer medications, information about its effects during pregnancy is still being collected. If a pregnancy is planned, a discussion with your neurologist is recommended. For further information, refer to the Contraception and Pregnancy section.
Disclaimer
The information provided in this handout is limited and does not replace the need for a medical consultation. It is very important you speak to your doctor about all aspects of your medication including side effects when medication is first prescribed. Report any concerns to your doctor promptly.
Information last reviewed: 3/05/2023.