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Brivaracetam

Brivaracetam is an antiepileptic medication used to treat partial-onset seizures in patients 1 month of age and older.

Brand name Briviact
Drug class Epoxide Hydrolase Inhibitors
Rx Schedule CV Forms 3
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Reviewed by Last reviewed Jul 10, 2026 Content updated Oct 2, 2026
🧬 Where this information comes from Click to expand

The clinical label records used on this page are FDA-filed Structured Product Labeling (SPL) retrieved through openFDA. We identified 18 clinical label sets within the page’s selected clinical scope after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching. Forms, routes, brands, labelers, strengths, and NDC product-record counts are built separately from matching FDA National Drug Code Directory records. The linked DailyMed document is a representative official source for verification, not the page’s only clinical source. View the linked label on DailyMed →

✓No current FDA shortage listed · checked Oct 7, 2026
Other forms & routes:
Injection
Brivaracetam at a glance The quick version — the full detail is in the Patient Information Guide below.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
The Pharmacist’s Take By · Clinical pharmacist · Written

Brivaracetam (Briviact) treats partial-onset seizures, those starting in one part of the brain, in adults and children from 1 month old, binding a brain protein called SV2A to quiet abnormal electrical activity; a close cousin of levetiracetam, on the market since about 2015 and available as a generic, it is usually an add-on or a switch rather than the first choice. Most people tolerate it well, with drowsiness, dizziness and tiredness the effects they notice most. Watch mood most closely, since like every seizure medicine it carries a risk of suicidal thoughts, sometimes within the first week, so report new depression or unusual behavior promptly.

Clinical pearls

  • Skip alcohol entirely, since brivaracetam markedly strengthens its effects on coordination, alertness and memory.
  • Never stop it suddenly, even if it seems not to work, because seizures can return or worsen without a taper.
  • Tell any prescriber about rifampin, phenytoin or carbamazepine, since each may mean a dose change or a blood level check.
  • Stop it and seek care at the first rash or any face or throat swelling, signs of a rare serious reaction.
How we write & review this content — our editorial policy →
How you get itPrescription only
Comes asTablet, Oral solution, Injection
Earliest FDA record2015
Companies listing it with the FDA17
FDA label last updatedAug 20, 2026
FDA’s strongest warning (boxed)None on the label

Patient information guide A plain-language walkthrough of Brivaracetam, written from its FDA label.

What Brivaracetam is used for

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Brivaracetam is an antiepileptic drug approved for the following use across its available formulations:

  • Partial-onset seizures in patients 1 month of age and older — supported by brivaracetam tablets, brivaracetam oral solution, and brivaracetam injection, as well as the brand-name products Briviact (tablets, oral solution, and injection) and Brivaracetam oral Solution
  • Can be used as the sole seizure medication (monotherapy) or alongside other antiepileptic drugs (adjunctive therapy)
  • Brivaracetam injection (including Briviact injection) is specifically indicated for intravenous use when oral administration is temporarily not feasible — it is not a stand-alone oral alternative

How Brivaracetam works

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Brivaracetam binds with high selectivity to a brain protein called synaptic vesicle protein 2A (SV2A). This protein sits on the tiny sacs (vesicles) that neurons use to release chemical messengers. By binding to SV2A, brivaracetam is believed to help dampen the abnormal bursts of electrical activity that cause seizures. The exact mechanism is not fully established, but the strong and selective affinity for SV2A is considered central to its anticonvulsant effect.

Brivaracetam dosage

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Brivaracetam is taken twice daily — morning and evening. Tablets and oral solution are taken by mouth; the injection is given intravenously by a healthcare professional only when oral dosing is not temporarily possible. Tablets may be taken with or without food, though eating a high-fat meal alongside a tablet may slow absorption (without meaningfully reducing the total amount that reaches your system).

  • For adults and adolescents 16 and older, dosing is not weight-based — your prescriber sets the starting dose and adjusts based on how well it works and how well you tolerate it
  • For children under 16, dosing is weight-based and administered twice daily
  • Gradual dose increases when starting treatment are not required, but the dose may be adjusted over time
  • Never stop brivaracetam abruptly — your prescriber will guide you on tapering if you need to stop

Dosing details from the FDA-approved label

From the Brivaracetam prescribing information (“Dosage and Administration”). Doses are set by your prescriber for your product, condition, kidney function and age — never change a dose on your own.

  • Adults (16 years and older), monotherapy or adjunctive therapy
    • Initial dosage 50 mg twice daily (100 mg per day)
    • Minimum and maximum maintenance dosage 25 mg to 100 mg twice daily (50 mg to 200 mg per day)
    • Maximum: 100 mg twice daily (200 mg per day)
    • Gradual dose escalation is not required when initiating treatment; adjust based on clinical response and tolerability
  • Pediatric patients weighing 50 kg or more
    • Initial dosage 25 mg to 50 mg twice daily (50 mg to 100 mg per day)
    • Maintenance dosage 25 mg to 100 mg twice daily (50 mg to 200 mg per day)
    • Maximum: 100 mg twice daily (200 mg per day)
    • Dosing is the same as the adult dosing range
  • Pediatric patients weighing 20 kg to less than 50 kg
    • Initial dosage 0.5 mg/kg to 1 mg/kg twice daily (1 mg/kg to 2 mg/kg per day)
    • Maintenance dosage 0.5 mg/kg to 2 mg/kg twice daily (1 mg/kg to 4 mg/kg per day)
    • Maximum: 2 mg/kg twice daily (4 mg/kg per day)
    • Weight-based dosing
  • Pediatric patients weighing 11 kg to less than 20 kg
    • Initial dosage 0.5 mg/kg to 1.25 mg/kg twice daily (1 mg/kg to 2.5 mg/kg per day)
    • Maintenance dosage 0.5 mg/kg to 2.5 mg/kg twice daily (1 mg/kg to 5 mg/kg per day)
    • Maximum: 2.5 mg/kg twice daily (5 mg/kg per day)
    • Weight-based dosing
  • Pediatric patients weighing less than 11 kg
    • Initial dosage 0.75 mg/kg to 1.5 mg/kg twice daily (1.5 mg/kg to 3 mg/kg per day)
    • Maintenance dosage 0.75 mg/kg to 3 mg/kg twice daily (1.5 mg/kg to 6 mg/kg per day)
    • Maximum: 3 mg/kg twice daily (6 mg/kg per day)
    • Weight-based dosing
  • Hepatic impairment, adults (16 years and older)
    • Initial dosage 25 mg twice daily (50 mg per day)
    • Maximum: 75 mg twice daily (150 mg per day)
    • Dose adjustment recommended for all stages of hepatic impairment
  • Hepatic impairment, pediatric patients weighing 20 kg to less than 50 kg
    • Initial dosage 0.5 mg/kg twice daily (1 mg/kg per day)
    • Maximum: 1.5 mg/kg twice daily (3 mg/kg per day)
    • Dose adjustment recommended for all stages of hepatic impairment
  • Hepatic impairment, pediatric patients weighing 11 kg to less than 20 kg
    • Initial dosage 0.5 mg/kg twice daily (1 mg/kg per day)
    • Maximum: 2 mg/kg twice daily (4 mg/kg per day)
    • Dose adjustment recommended for all stages of hepatic impairment
  • Hepatic impairment, pediatric patients weighing less than 11 kg
    • Initial dosage 0.75 mg/kg twice daily (1.5 mg/kg per day)
    • Maximum: 2.25 mg/kg twice daily (4.5 mg/kg per day)
    • Dose adjustment recommended for all stages of hepatic impairment
  • Patients on concomitant rifampin
    • Increase the dosage by up to 100% (i.e., double the dosage)
    • Applies while receiving concomitant rifampin
Read the label’s full dosing text

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Adults (16 Years and Older): The recommended starting dosage for monotherapy or adjunctive therapy is 50 mg twice daily (100 mg per day). Based on individual patient tolerability and therapeutic response, the dosage may be adjusted down to 25 mg twice daily (50 mg per day) or up to 100 mg twice daily (200 mg per day). ( 2.1 ) Pediatric Patients (1 Month to less than 16 Years): The recommended dosage is based on body weight and is administered orally twice daily ( 2.1 ) Injection: for intravenous use only when oral administration is temporarily not feasible; dosing is the same as oral regimen. ( 2.1 , 2.3 ) Hepatic Impairment: Dose adjustment is recommended for all stages of hepatic impairment. ( 2.5 ) 2.1 Dosage Information Monotherapy or Adjunctive Therapy The recommended dosage for patients 1 month of age and older is included in Table 1. In pediatric patients weighing less than 50 kg, the recommended dosing regimen is dependent upon body weight. When initiating treatment, gradual dose escalation is not required. Dosage should be adjusted based on clinical response and tolerability. Table 1: Recommended Dosage for Patients 1 Month of Age and Older Age and Body Weight Initial Dosage Minimum and Maximum Maintenance Dosage Adults (16 years and older) 50 mg twice daily (100 mg per day) 25 mg to 100 mg twice daily (50 mg to 200 mg per day) Pediatric patients weighing 50 kg or more 25 mg to 50 mg twice daily (50 mg to 100 mg per day) 25 mg to 100 mg twice daily (50 mg to 200 mg per day) Pediatric patients weighing 20 kg to less than 50 kg 0.5 mg/kg to 1 mg/kg twice daily (1 mg/kg to 2 mg/kg per day) 0.5 mg/kg to 2 mg/kg twice daily (1 mg/kg to 4 mg/kg per day) Pediatric patients weighing 11 kg to less than 20 kg 0.5 mg/kg to 1.25 mg/kg twice daily (1 mg/kg to 2.5 mg/kg per day) 0.5 mg/kg to 2.5 mg/kg twice daily (1 mg/kg to 5 mg/kg per day) Pediatric patients weighing less than 11 kg 0.75 mg/kg to 1.5 mg/kg twice daily (1.5 mg/kg to 3 mg/kg per day) 0.75 mg/kg to 3 mg/kg twice daily (1.5 mg/kg to 6 mg/kg per day) BRIVIACT Injection Dosage BRIVIACT injection may be used when oral administration is temporarily not feasible [see Dosage and Administration (2.3) ]. BRIVIACT injection should be administered intravenously at the same dosage and same frequency as BRIVIACT tablets and oral solution.

Excerpted — the section continues on the label. Read the full Dosage and Administration section on DailyMed →

Brivaracetam side effects

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The most common side effects reported with brivaracetam include:

Common side effects

  • Drowsiness or sedation
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue or tiredness
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Problems with balance or coordination
  • Irritability
  • Constipation
  • Drowsiness or sedation — the most frequently reported effect, and more likely at higher doses
  • Decreased appetite (seen in pediatric studies)

When to get medical help

  • Call your doctor right away if you notice new or worsening depression, unusual mood changes, or thoughts of self-harm or suicide
  • Seek emergency care immediately if you develop difficulty breathing or swelling of the face, lips, or throat (signs of a serious allergic reaction)
  • Stop taking and contact your doctor at the first sign of a rash — it may signal a rare but serious skin reaction such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome
  • Tell your doctor if you experience severe or unusual psychiatric symptoms, including hallucinations, paranoia, or aggressive behavior
  • Do not stop brivaracetam suddenly — this can cause seizures to return or worsen; talk to your doctor about gradually tapering the dose

More serious reactions — including allergic reactions with throat swelling or trouble breathing, severe skin reactions, and significant psychiatric symptoms such as hallucinations or aggressive behavior — require prompt medical attention. Brivaracetam can also cause low white blood cell counts in rare cases, which your doctor may monitor.

Brivaracetam warnings and precautions

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  • Suicidal thoughts and behavior: All antiepileptic drugs, including brivaracetam, increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior. This risk can appear as soon as one week after starting treatment and applies across all ages. Watch for new depression, unusual mood changes, or talk of self-harm — and seek help immediately if these occur.
  • Drowsiness and coordination problems: Brivaracetam can impair your ability to drive or use machinery. This risk is highest early in treatment. Do not drive until you know how the medication affects you.
  • Psychiatric reactions: Irritability, anxiety, aggression, mood swings, depression, and — less commonly — hallucinations or psychotic behavior have all been reported. Tell your doctor about any behavioral changes.
  • Serious allergic reactions: Bronchospasm (airway tightening) and angioedema (dangerous swelling of the face or throat) have occurred. If this happens, stop the medication and get emergency care right away.
  • Serious skin reactions: Rare but life-threatening skin conditions (Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis) have been reported. Stop brivaracetam at the first sign of a rash and contact your doctor immediately.
  • Do not stop suddenly: Stopping brivaracetam abruptly can trigger a return or worsening of seizures. Taper the dose gradually under medical supervision.
  • Tartrazine allergy: Brivaracetam 100 mg tablets contain FD&C Yellow No. 5 (tartrazine), which can trigger allergic reactions — particularly in people with aspirin sensitivity.

Brivaracetam interactions

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Brivaracetam interacts with several medications and substances. Tell your doctor about everything you take, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements:

  • Rifampin (antibiotic): significantly lowers brivaracetam blood levels — your prescriber may need to double the brivaracetam dose
  • Carbamazepine (antiepileptic): brivaracetam can raise levels of carbamazepine-epoxide, an active byproduct — a carbamazepine dose reduction may be needed if side effects arise
  • Phenytoin (antiepileptic): brivaracetam can increase phenytoin blood levels — phenytoin should be monitored when brivaracetam is started or stopped
  • Levetiracetam (antiepileptic): using brivaracetam together with levetiracetam showed no added seizure benefit in studies
  • Alcohol: combining brivaracetam with alcohol significantly worsens effects on coordination, reaction time, alertness, and memory — avoid alcohol while taking this medication
  • CYP2C19 inhibitors: drugs that inhibit the CYP2C19 enzyme can raise brivaracetam blood levels — a dose reduction may be needed

Interactions listed in the FDA-approved label

From the Brivaracetam prescribing information (“Drug Interactions”): what the manufacturer studied or reported to the FDA.

  • Rifampin: Co-administration decreases brivaracetam plasma concentrations, likely because of CYP2C19 induction. Increase the brivaracetam dose by up to 100% (i.e., double the dosage) while receiving concomitant rifampin.
  • Carbamazepine: May increase exposure to carbamazepine-epoxide, the active metabolite of carbamazepine. Available data did not reveal any safety concerns; if tolerability issues arise, consider carbamazepine dose reduction.
  • Phenytoin: Brivaracetam can increase plasma concentrations of phenytoin. Monitor phenytoin levels when brivaracetam is added to or discontinued from ongoing phenytoin therapy.
  • Levetiracetam: Brivaracetam provided no added therapeutic benefit when co-administered with levetiracetam.
Read the label’s full interactions text

7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Rifampin: Because of decreased concentrations, increasing brivaracetam oral solution dosage in patients on concomitant rifampin is recommended. ( 2.6 , 7.1 ) Carbamazepine: Because of increased exposure to carbamazepine metabolite, if tolerability issues arise, consider reducing carbamazepine dosage in patients on concomitant brivaracetam oral solution. ( 7.2 ) Phenytoin: Because phenytoin concentrations can increase, phenytoin levels should be monitored in patients on concomitant brivaracetam oral solution. ( 7.3 ) Levetiracetam:B rivaracetam oral solution had no added therapeutic benefit when co-administered with levetiracetam. ( 7.4 ) 7.1 Rifampin Co-administration with rifampin decreases brivatacetum plasma concentrations likely because of CYP2C19 induction [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Prescribers should increase the brivatacetum dose by up to 100% (i.e., double the dosage) in patients while receiving concomitant treatment with rifampin [see Dosage and Administration (2.6) ] . 7.2 Carbamazepine Co-administration with carbamazepine may increase exposure to carbamazepine-epoxide, the active metabolite of carbamazepine. Though available data did not reveal any safety concerns, if tolerability issues arise when co-administered, carbamazepine dose reduction should be considered [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . 7.3 Phenytoin Because brivatacetum can increase plasma concentrations of phenytoin, phenytoin levels should be monitored in patients when concomitant brivatacetum is added to or discontinued from ongoing phenytoin therapy [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . 7.4 Levetiracetam Brivatacetum provided no added therapeutic benefit to levetiracetam when the two drugs were co-administered [see Clinical Studies (14) ].

Read the full Drug Interactions section on DailyMed →

Not a complete list. The label covers the interactions the manufacturer studied or reported, and our own interaction database does not cover every medicine either. Bring your full medication list, including vitamins and herbal products, to your pharmacist.

🌿50 supplements and herbs with documented Brivaracetam interactions, ranked by severity Check Brivaracetam against a supplement or herb →

Before taking Brivaracetam

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  • Do not take brivaracetam if you have had a prior allergic reaction to brivaracetam or any of its inactive ingredients — serious allergic reactions including airway problems have occurred
  • Liver disease: dose adjustment is required for all stages of hepatic (liver) impairment; tell your prescriber about any liver problems
  • End-stage kidney disease on dialysis: brivaracetam is not recommended — there are no safety data for this group
  • Pregnancy: animal studies showed possible harm to the developing fetus; the risk in humans is not fully established. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. Consider enrolling in the NAAED Pregnancy Registry (1-888-233-2334)
  • Breastfeeding: brivaracetam passes into breast milk; the impact on a nursing infant is not well studied. Discuss the decision to breastfeed with your doctor
  • Children under 1 month: safety and effectiveness have not been established in this age group
  • Older adults: start at a lower dose if possible; older patients may have reduced liver, kidney, or heart function that affects how the drug is processed
  • Aspirin sensitivity: brivaracetam 100 mg tablets contain tartrazine (FD&C Yellow No. 5), which may trigger allergic reactions in susceptible individuals, especially those sensitive to aspirin
  • CYP2C19 genetic variation: people with certain genetic differences in the CYP2C19 enzyme process brivaracetam more slowly and may need a dose adjustment

Brivaracetam overdose

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Taking too much brivaracetam can cause drowsiness, dizziness, vertigo, fatigue, nausea, vision problems (double vision), loss of balance, anxiety, and slowed heart rate. There is no specific antidote. If an overdose is suspected, call a poison control center right away or seek emergency medical care — and make sure the airway is kept clear and heart rate and vital signs are monitored.

What Brivaracetam does in the body

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Brivaracetam increases the sedating effects of alcohol significantly — impairing coordination, alertness, attention, balance, and memory more than either substance alone. This effect was observed even at a dose double the highest recommended amount. At up to four times the maximum recommended dose, brivaracetam did not cause any clinically meaningful effects on the heart's electrical rhythm (QT interval).

How your body processes Brivaracetam

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Brivaracetam is absorbed quickly and nearly completely when taken by mouth, with peak blood levels reached in about an hour for tablets taken without food. A high-fat meal slows absorption but does not meaningfully change the total amount absorbed. The drug is only weakly bound to proteins in the blood and distributes evenly throughout body tissues. It is broken down mainly in the liver — primarily through an enzyme-driven process, with the CYP2C19 enzyme playing a secondary role — and over 95% of the drug and its inactive breakdown products leave the body through the urine within 72 hours. The half-life (the time for blood levels to drop by half) is approximately 9 hours.

How to store Brivaracetam

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Store at 25°C (77°F); excursions permitted between 15°C to 30°C (59°F to 86°F). Do not freeze BRIVIACT injection or oral solution.

Written from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →

50

Supplements & herbs that interact with Brivaracetam

50 supplements and herbal products have documented interactions with Brivaracetam in the licensed clinical database we use. Most are manageable — but your pharmacist should know about everything you take, including vitamins and herbals.

Severity mix
  • Major · 1
  • Moderate · 36
  • Minor · 13
ACTIVATED CHARCOAL Major ADRAFINIL Moderate ARTICHOKE Moderate BACOPA Moderate BAIKAL SKULLCAP Moderate BOSWELLIA SERRATA Moderate CANNABIDIOL (CBD) Moderate CANNABIS Moderate +42 more
Every supplement checked against Brivaracetam — ranked by severity The full interaction hub: 1 major · 36 moderate · 13 minor · every one linked to its full report. Check Brivaracetam against your exact supplements

Educational information from a licensed clinical database (Natural Medicines) — see our data sources & update cadence. Not medical advice: an interaction being documented does not mean it will happen to you; do not start or stop medications or supplements without professional guidance.

Brivaracetam: pharmacist answers to common questions

Quick, plain-English answers to the questions patients ask most about Brivaracetam — the kind of thing our pharmacy team would talk through with you at the counter.

What exactly is brivaracetam used for?

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Brivaracetam is used to control partial-onset seizures — the type that start in one specific area of the brain. It's approved for adults and children as young as 1 month old, and it can be used on its own or added to other seizure medications you may already be taking.

Is it okay to have a glass of wine or beer while taking this medication?

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It's best to avoid alcohol entirely while you're on brivaracetam. Studies show that combining the two significantly worsens coordination, alertness, balance, reaction time, and memory — much more than either one would on its own. That's a real safety concern, especially if you drive or work with machinery.

What side effects should I expect, and which ones should make me call my doctor?

▾
The most common ones are drowsiness, dizziness, fatigue, and nausea — these tend to be most noticeable early on. For day-to-day side effects like tiredness, give it a little time and avoid driving until you know how it affects you. Call your doctor right away if you notice mood changes, depression, thoughts of self-harm, aggressive behavior, or hallucinations. Seek emergency help immediately if you develop trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, or a rash that spreads quickly.

Can I just stop taking it if I feel like it's not working or I don't like the side effects?

▾
Please don't stop suddenly — stopping brivaracetam abruptly can cause your seizures to come back or get worse, which can be dangerous. If you want to stop or switch medications, talk to your prescriber first. They'll put together a gradual tapering plan to bring the dose down safely.

Is this medication safe to take during pregnancy?

▾
This is something to discuss openly with your doctor. Animal studies did show some potential harm to developing fetuses, though we don't have definitive data in humans. Because uncontrolled seizures during pregnancy also carry serious risks, your doctor will weigh the benefits and risks with you individually. If you are pregnant or become pregnant while taking brivaracetam, consider enrolling in the North American AED Pregnancy Registry at 1-888-233-2334 — it helps researchers better understand outcomes.

My child has been prescribed brivaracetam — is it safe for kids?

▾
Yes, brivaracetam is approved for children as young as 1 month old. Dosing for kids under 16 is calculated based on body weight, so it's important to follow the prescriber's instructions exactly. Side effects in children are generally similar to those in adults — drowsiness, dizziness, and mood or behavioral changes are the main ones to watch for. Let your child's doctor know right away if you notice any significant personality or behavior changes.

Is Brivaracetam available over the counter?

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No. Brivaracetam is a prescription medicine: every Brivaracetam product listed with the FDA is prescription only, so it is not sold over the counter. Your prescriber decides whether it is appropriate for you, and your pharmacist dispenses it.

Is Brivaracetam a controlled substance?

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Yes — Brivaracetam is a federally controlled substance (Schedule V) in the United States, so how it is prescribed, refilled and dispensed is regulated by the DEA.

When was Brivaracetam first available?

▾
The earliest FDA record we hold for Brivaracetam is from 2015: its first approval in Drugs@FDA or its earliest product listing in the NDC Directory, whichever is older. Many older medicines were in use before their first formal FDA approval, so this is the earliest date on record, not necessarily when Brivaracetam was first used.

Who makes Brivaracetam?

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17 companies currently list Brivaracetam products in the FDA's NDC Directory, including Novadoz Pharmaceuticals LLC, UCB, Inc., Aurobindo Pharma Limited. That count includes repackagers and distributors as well as manufacturers (companies that sell only the raw ingredient are not counted), so fewer companies actually make it; the label on your bottle names the one that supplied yours.

Answers drafted from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →

More about Brivaracetam on HelloPharmacist

📊Brivaracetam supplement interactions50 checked — ranked by severity 🌿Drug & Supplement CheckerBrivaracetam vs. vitamins & herbs 💬Ask a PharmacistFree answer, usually < 24h 🔎NDC & pricing lookupFind Brivaracetam NDCs & costs 🅰️Browse Drugs A–ZLook up any medication
Detailed data & references for Brivaracetam Forms & strengths, pricing, billing codes, manufacturers, safety reports and sourcing — the data behind the page. Most people can stop here. Each section below opens on a tap.

Brivaracetam forms and strengths (how it comes)

Brivaracetam is available in 3 forms. Different forms and brands can have different approved uses, doses, schedules, and directions. Follow the instructions for your exact product, and do not switch forms without guidance from your prescriber or pharmacist.

Need a version that does not list lactose, a gluten source, a dye or gelatin? Inactive ingredients differ by manufacturer: see Brivaracetam inactive ingredients by manufacturer.

Tablet

By mouth
Brands Briviact
How this form is used
What it may be used for
  • Brivaracetam tablets are approved to treat partial-onset seizures in patients 1 month of age and older
  • Briviact tablets are approved to treat partial-onset seizures in patients 1 month of age and older
Important instructions
  • Taken by mouth twice daily, with or without food
  • A high-fat meal may slow absorption slightly, but does not meaningfully change the total amount absorbed
  • Brivaracetam 100 mg tablets contain tartrazine (FD&C Yellow No. 5) — tell your doctor if you have aspirin sensitivity or known dye allergies
  • Do not stop tablets suddenly; follow your prescriber's guidance for tapering if discontinuation is needed
Available strengths 5 strengths
10 mg 25 mg 50 mg 75 mg 100 mg
86 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Oral solution

By mouth
Brands Briviact
How this form is used
What it may be used for
  • Brivaracetam oral solution is approved to treat partial-onset seizures in patients 1 month of age and older
  • Briviact oral solution is approved to treat partial-onset seizures in patients 1 month of age and older
Important instructions
  • Taken by mouth twice daily
  • Dosing for children under 16 is weight-based — follow your prescriber's instructions carefully
  • If also taking rifampin, your prescriber may need to adjust the brivaracetam oral solution dose upward
  • Monitor phenytoin blood levels if brivaracetam oral solution is added to or removed from a phenytoin regimen
Available strengths 1 strength
10 mg/mL
11 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Injection

Into a vein
Brands Briviact
How this form is used
What it may be used for
  • Brivaracetam injection is approved to treat partial-onset seizures in patients 1 month of age and older
  • Briviact injection is approved to treat partial-onset seizures in patients 1 month of age and older
Important instructions
  • Brivaracetam injection is for intravenous (IV) use only, and only when oral dosing is temporarily not possible
  • Briviact injection is given at the same dose as the oral regimen — the switch between IV and oral does not require a dose change
  • Administered by a healthcare professional in a clinical setting
  • Once the patient can take medication by mouth, switching back to oral brivaracetam is appropriate
Available strengths 1 strength
50 mg/5 mL
8 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Brivaracetam on the U.S. market: products, makers and brands

How Brivaracetam appears in the FDA’s National Drug Code Directory — including its dosage forms, strengths, brand names, manufacturers, and FDA-listed product records. These are directory records, not sales or prescription volume.

17 companies list 62 Brivaracetam product records with the FDA, mostly as tablet, oral solution, injection; the earliest marketing or approval year on record is 2015. Brand names on the directory include Briviact; the rest are generics.

3
Dose forms ⓘ
17
Labelers (makers, repackagers, distributors)
3
Brand names
62
FDA-listed product records ⓘ
2015
Earliest FDA record ⓘ

FDA-listed product records by dose form (tablet variants merged) — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.

Also listed with the FDA, not a patient dose form: Powder (14) — bulk drug substance sold to compounders/manufacturers and multi-item kits. These aren’t counted in the dose-form total above.

Novadoz Pharmaceuticals LLC11%
UCB, Inc.11%
Aurobindo Pharma Limited10%
Apotex Corp.8%
Exelan Pharmaceuticals, Inc8%
ScieGen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.8%
Other makers44%

Share of FDA-listed product records by manufacturer — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.

How widely Brivaracetam is used (Medicaid data)

A general measure of how commonly Brivaracetam is prescribed, based on Medicaid — one of the largest public drug programs. The figure below is prescriptions filled in Q1–Q4 2025, summed across every form and brand of the drug.

Think of this as a proxy for how widely Brivaracetam is used, drawn from freely available public data. Medicaid is just one program — these numbers don’t include Medicare, other government coverage, or commercial and cash-pay prescriptions, so real-world use is higher than what’s shown here.

174,041
Medicaid prescriptions filled (Q1–Q4 2025)
$290.1M gross Medicaid reimbursement (before mandatory rebates — net cost is lower)

How commonly is Brivaracetam prescribed? Of the 1,601 medications we measure, Brivaracetam ranks #414 by Medicaid prescriptions — more than 74% of them.

Where Brivaracetam ranks among the drugs we measure · Q1–Q4 2025 · neighbors ±5
Total prescriptions — #414 of 1,601
#409 Phentermine 179,849 Rx #410 Tobramycin 179,203 Rx #411 Spinosad Topical 178,338 Rx #412 Fluticasone and Vilant... 176,294 Rx #413 Acetaminophen Injectio... 174,861 Rx #414 Brivaracetam 174,041 Rx #415 Irbesartan 172,404 Rx #416 Mesalamine 171,248 Rx #417 Serdexmethylphenidate... 170,163 Rx #418 Linagliptin 168,433 Rx #419 Diazepam Nasal Spray 167,415 Rx

Utilization by Brivaracetam product

Pick a product to see its own Medicaid numbers. Each chip is one clinical product — a specific strength & dosage form as defined by RxNorm — with brand-name and generic versions combined.

The 100 mg oral tablet is the most-dispensed Brivaracetam product — about 44% of these Medicaid prescriptions.

brivaracetam 100 MG Oral Tablet Most dispensed

76,438 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 44% of Brivaracetam prescriptions shown $122.7M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $1,605 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 2 of 19 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1739768

brivaracetam 50 MG Oral Tablet

39,537 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 23% of Brivaracetam prescriptions shown $63.2M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $1,599 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 2 of 19 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1739776

brivaracetam 10 MG/ML Oral Solution

36,065 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 21% of Brivaracetam prescriptions shown $64.1M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $1,777 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 1 of 7 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1739785

brivaracetam 75 MG Oral Tablet

12,939 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 7% of Brivaracetam prescriptions shown $23.1M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $1,783 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 1 of 14 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1739780

brivaracetam 25 MG Oral Tablet

8,623 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 5% of Brivaracetam prescriptions shown $15.7M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $1,822 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 1 of 18 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1739772

brivaracetam 10 MG Oral Tablet

439 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) <1% of Brivaracetam prescriptions shown $1.3M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $2,858 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 1 of 13 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1739761

Shares are of the Medicaid prescriptions shown here. Product grouping follows RxNorm (the National Library of Medicine’s drug terminology), so “one product” means one strength & dosage form regardless of manufacturer. Dollar figures are gross Medicaid reimbursement before mandatory rebates — rebates (often large, especially for brand-name drugs) are confidential, so actual net cost to Medicaid is lower than shown.

Source: Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data (CMS), aggregated by generic ingredient — summed across every NDC (all brands, strengths, salt forms and dosage forms) of Brivaracetam, and across all states and both fee-for-service and managed-care claims. A general popularity signal; it excludes Medicare, commercial insurance and cash prescriptions, so it is not total U.S. use. Based on the 8 of 90 listed Brivaracetam NDCs with Medicaid activity.

Compare Brivaracetam products

A representative set of FDA-listed product records for Brivaracetam — across manufacturers, strengths, and dosage forms, grouped by form with each product’s manufacturer and how the FDA approved it. The same medicine may be made and packaged by different companies, so a single drug can have many directory entries. (It’s also why a refill can look different — a new shape, color, or box — even though it contains the same medication.)

Showing 62 of 62 products — FDA National Drug Code Directory. See every product, package size and price: browse all 62 Brivaracetam NDCs →

Brivaracetam side effects reported to the FDA (FAERS)

After a medicine reaches the market, patients, doctors and drugmakers can send the FDA reports of problems they think may be linked to it. Here’s what’s been reported for Brivaracetam — a signal of what to watch for, not proof the drug caused it.

The effects most often named in FDA reports that mention Brivaracetam are seizure, fatigue, therapy interrupted; about 80% of the reports were classed as serious. These are voluntary reports, so they show what people report, not how often it happens.

8,940
Reports mentioning it
80%
Reported as serious
12
Distinct effects shown
Most reported effects
Seizure
3,218
Fatigue
576
Therapy Interrupted
518
Somnolence
513
Overdose
496
Dizziness
464
Product Availability Issue
392
Fall
369
Generalised Tonic-clonic Seizure
341
Epilepsy
332
Age groups
Adult · 500Elderly · 99Child · 49Adolescent · 36Neonate · 31Infant · 13

Source: openFDA, from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). These are voluntary reports — they don’t prove the drug caused the effect, and counts reflect how often something was reported, not how often it actually happens. Reports also often name the very problem the medicine is taken for — a common reason to file one is that the drug didn’t help — so for a pain reliever you may see “pain” high on the list; that points to why the report was filed, not to the drug causing the symptom. This counts every report that lists Brivaracetam in any role, so the total runs higher than the FDA’s official dashboard, which counts only cases where the drug is the suspect. For the authoritative figures, see the FDA FAERS Public Dashboard. Always talk to your pharmacist or doctor.

Brivaracetam FDA approval history

How Brivaracetam went from FDA review to the pharmacy shelf — the key milestones in its regulatory journey.

Brivaracetam was first approved by the FDA in 2015; the first generic version was approved in 2022. It remains available in U.S. pharmacies today.

2015
First FDA approval
2022
First generic approved
Lower-cost ANDA competition begins
2026
Available today
Active in U.S. pharmacies

Source: Drugs@FDA.

Brivaracetam recall history

A recall is when a specific batch of a medicine is pulled from the market — usually a manufacturing issue, not a problem with the drug itself. Class I is most serious, Class III least.

The FDA’s enforcement reports list no Brivaracetam recalls since July 2021.

✅No Brivaracetam recalls on record since July 2021

Source: FDA enforcement (recall) reports, via openFDA; our copy was last updated Sep 24, 2026.

RxNorm Concept Web — From Ingredient to Every Form and Strength

This page starts with one ingredient concept (IN). The branches below show its dose-form concepts (SCDF), then the available clinical drug and strength concepts (SCD). Combination products remain separate concepts with their own pages.

Ingredient (IN) Brivaracetam RxCUI 1739745 3 dose forms · 7 strengths
  1. Dose form (SCDF) Injection RxCUI 1739748 In current FDA listings
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) 5 ML brivaracetam 10 MG/ML RxCUI 1739749
  2. Dose form (SCDF) Oral Solution RxCUI 1739784 In current FDA listings
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) 10 MG/ML RxCUI 1739785
  3. Dose form (SCDF) Oral Tablet RxCUI 1739760 In current FDA listings
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) 10 MG RxCUI 1739761 25 MG RxCUI 1739772 50 MG RxCUI 1739776 75 MG RxCUI 1739780 100 MG RxCUI 1739768

Look up RxCUI 1739745 in the RxCUI Atlas →

RxNorm is the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s normalized drug vocabulary. Its concept hierarchy can include forms that are not currently marketed; the status on each branch compares that concept with current FDA listings. RxCUIs identify vocabulary concepts, not individual packages or manufacturers.

💵 What Brivaracetam costs pharmacies (NADAC benchmark)

The national average invoice price pharmacies pay for the drug itself, from CMS's NADAC survey (data as of Sep 30, 2026). This is a supply-cost benchmark — not a retail price and not what you'd pay at the counter.

FormStrengthPharmacy acquisition benchmark
Solution · Oral 10 mg/mL $0.267 per mL NDC details & price history
Tablet · Oral 25 mg $0.222 per tablet NDC details & price history
Tablet · Oral 50 mg $0.189 per tablet NDC details & price history
Tablet · Oral 75 mg $0.266 per tablet NDC details & price history
Tablet · Oral 100 mg $0.259 per tablet NDC details & price history
Why show this? Your out-of-pocket cost depends on insurance, pharmacy markup, and discounts — but the acquisition benchmark tells you whether the medication itself is inexpensive or costly, which strengths cost more per dose, and whether a cash-price quote is in a reasonable range. Each row links to the NDC-level record with its full price history.

Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC), a survey of retail pharmacy invoice prices. Benchmarks shown are the range across package sizes of a representative product for each form and strength — other manufacturers' products may differ.

Brivaracetam brand names

Brivaracetam is sold under one brand name in the FDA directory — Briviact. A brand and its generic contain the same active ingredient; the brand name belongs to one company's product.

Briviact

Who makes Brivaracetam: manufacturers and labelers

17 companies list Brivaracetam products with the FDA. By number of product records, the largest are Novadoz Pharmaceuticals LLC, UCB, Inc., Aurobindo Pharma Limited. Labelers include manufacturers and repackagers; the product in your bottle depends on which one your pharmacy stocks.

Novadoz Pharmaceuticals LLC 7 UCB, Inc. 7 Aurobindo Pharma Limited 6 Apotex Corp. 5 Exelan Pharmaceuticals, Inc 5 ScieGen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 5 SolarisPharmaCorporation 5 Zydus Lifesciences Limited 5 Zydus Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. 5 AvKARE 4 PAI Holdings, LLC dba PAI Pharma 2 Ascend Laboratories, LLC 1 Florida Pharmaceutical Products, LLC 1 Hainan Poly Pharm. Co., Ltd. 1 Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 1 Micro Labs Limited 1 Zhejiang Poly Pharm. Co., Ltd. 1

Brivaracetam drug class (RxNorm)

Brivaracetam belongs to the Other antiepileptics class.

Drug family (ATC) Other antiepileptics
How it works Epoxide Hydrolase Inhibitors

Classified by RxNorm RxClass — the U.S. National Library of Medicine's standardized drug-classification service (Established Pharmacologic Class from the FDA, the ATC drug family from the WHO, and mechanism of action). Reference only, not medical advice.

Sources for this Brivaracetam page

Core label, product, RxNorm, safety, and utilization data on this page come from the sources identified below. AI-written, editorial, and licensed sections are labeled separately.

📄
FDA-filed drug labels (SPL) Uses, dosing, warnings & side effects from SPL records retrieved through openFDA; the linked representative set can be verified on DailyMed. ✓ Linked label effective Aug 20, 2026
🏭
Forms, brands & labelersAggregated from ingredient-matched FDA National Drug Code Directory product records for Brivaracetam.
📈
Real-world reportsThe FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), served through openFDA.
🚨
Recalls & shortagesopenFDA drug-enforcement reports and the FDA drug-shortage database.
🧾 Clinical label set — FDA-filed SPL labels retained for Brivaracetam after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching
Clinical labels in scope
18
Finished products in the current FDA directory
62
Companies listing them (makers, repackagers, distributors)
17
FDA labeler codes behind them ⓘ
18
Linked representative label ⓘ
UCB, Inc.
Linked label effective
Aug 20, 2026
Composite sections available
25
Linked SPL Set ID
3cf2f439-0e97-443e-8e33-25ecef616f6c
Linked SPL Document ID
597ca2bd-7caa-0d00-e063-6394a90a00c7
Open the linked representative label on DailyMed ↗

How this page is built

HelloPharmacist combines public FDA and NLM records and does not author the underlying clinical facts. The plain-language sections are written with AI from the FDA-approved label text and reviewed by our pharmacy team before publication. UCB, Inc. is the representative DailyMed label linked for verification and dates. This is general education, not medical advice: always talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own medicines. How we build and review drug pages →