Briviact Injection : Uses, Side Effects, Interactions & More

Why is this medication prescribed?

Briviact (Brivaracetam) injection is used together with other medications to control partial-onset seizures (seizures that involve only part of the brain) in people who are 16 years of age or older. Briviact in a class of medications called anticonvulsants. It works by decreasing abnormal electrical activity in the brain.

How should this medicine be used?

Briviact (Brivaracetam) injection comes as a solution (liquid) that is injected intravenously (into a vein) over a period of 2 to 15 minutes. It is usually given twice a day while you cannot take Briviact tablets or oral solution by mouth.

You can receive Briviact injection in a hospital or you can use the medicine at home. If you will be receiving Briviact injection at home, your healthcare provider will show you how to use the medicine. Make sure you understand these instructions and consult your healthcare provider if you have any questions.

Your doctor may increase or decrease your dose depending on how well the medicine works for you and the side effects you experience. Be sure to tell your doctor how you feel during your treatment with Briviact.

Briviact can be habit forming. Do not use a higher dose, use it more often, or use it for a longer period of time than prescribed by your doctor.

Briviact can help control your condition, but it will not cure it. Keep using Briviact even if you feel fine. Do not stop using Briviact injection without talking to your doctor, even if you experience side effects such as unusual changes in behavior or mood. If you stop using Briviact suddenly, your seizures may get worse. Your doctor will likely reduce your dose gradually.

Other uses for this medicine

This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

What special precautions should I follow?

Before taking Briviact injection,

Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to Briviact, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in Briviact injection. Ask your pharmacist or see the Medication Guide for a list of the ingredients.
Tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Epitol, Equetro, Tegretol, Teril), phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek), and rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, in Rifamate, Rifater). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you closely for side effects.
Tell your doctor if you currently or have ever drunk large amounts of alcohol, used illegal drugs, or overused prescription drugs. Also tell your doctor if you have or have ever had depression, mood problems, suicidal thoughts or behavior, kidney disease that was treated with dialysis (treatment to clean the blood out of the body when the kidneys are not working well), or liver disease.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while taking Briviact, call your doctor.
You should know that Briviact may make you dizzy or drowsy, and may cause blurred vision or problems with coordination and balance. Do not drive a car, operate machinery, or participate in activities that require alertness or coordination until you know how this drug affects you.
Ask your doctor about the safe use of alcoholic beverages while taking Briviact. Briviact can make the side effects of alcohol worse.
You should know that your mental health can change in unexpected ways and you may become suicidal (thinking about harming or killing yourself or planning or trying to do so) while using Briviact injection. A small number of adults and children 5 years of age and older (about 1 in 500 people) who took anticonvulsants such as Briviact injection to treat various conditions during clinical studies became suicidal during their treatment. Some of these people developed suicidal thoughts and behaviors as early as a week after starting the drug. There is a risk that you will experience changes in your mental health if you take an anti-seizure medication such as Briviact injection, but there may also be a risk that you will experience changes in your mental health if your condition is not treated. You and your doctor will decide if the risks of taking an anti-seizure medicine are greater than the risks of not taking the medicine. You, your family, or your caregiver should call your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms: panic attacks; agitation or restlessness; New or worsening irritability, anxiety, or depression; acting on dangerous impulses; Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep; aggressive, angry, or violent behavior; mania (frantic, abnormally excited mood); talking or thinking about wanting to hurt yourself or end your life; or any other unusual change in behavior or mood. Make sure your family or caregiver knows what symptoms may be serious so they can call your doctor if you are unable to seek treatment on your own.

What special dietary instructions should I follow?

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.

What should I do if I forget a dose?

Use the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not use a double dose to make up for the one you forgot.

What side effects can this medication cause?

Briviact injection may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

constipation
nausea
vomiting
change in ability to taste food
extreme tiredness or lack of energy
feeling drunk
pain near the place where Briviact was injected

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms or those listed in the SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS section, stop taking Briviact injection and call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical treatment:

swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, and eyes
difficulty swallowing or breathing
hoarseness
hallucinations (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist)
delusions (having strange thoughts or beliefs that have no basis in reality) such as thoughts that people are trying to harm you even if they are not

Briviact injection may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medicine.

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor can submit a report online to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program (http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).

In case of emergency/overdose

In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. If the victim collapsed, had a seizure, is having trouble breathing, or is unable to wake up, immediately call 911 for emergency services.

Symptoms of overdose may include the following:

sleepiness
extreme tiredness
dizziness
trouble keeping your balance
blurred or double vision
slowed heartbeat
nausea
feeling anxious

What other information should I know?

Don’t let anyone use your medicine. Briviact is a controlled substance. Prescriptions can be refilled only a limited number of times; ask your pharmacist if you have any questions.

Keep all your appointments with your doctor.

It is important that you keep a written list of all prescription and over-the-counter (over-the-counter) medications you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should take this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you go into hospital. It is also important information to take with you in case of emergencies.

Brand Names

Briviact^®

Disclaimer: DrLinex has made every effort to ensure that all information is factually accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date. However, this article should not be used as a licensed health care professional’s choice of knowledge and expertise. You should always consult your doctor or other health care professional before taking any medication. The information given here is subject to change and it has not been used to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions or adverse effects. The lack of warning or other information for any drug does not indicate that the combination of medicine or medication is safe, effective or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.