title: Brivaracetam in the treatment of focal and idiopathic generalized epilepsies and of status epilepticus.
abstract: Brivaracetam is the latest approved antiepileptic drug in focal epilepsy and exhibits high affinity as SV2A-ligand. More than two thousand patients have received brivaracetam within randomized placebo-controlled trials. Significant median seizure reduction rates of 30.5% to 53.1% for 50 mg/d, 32.5% to 37.2% for 100 mg/d and 35.6% for 200 mg/d were reported. Likewise, 50% responder rates were 32.7% to 55.8% for 50 mg/d, 36% to 38.9% for 100 mg/d and 37.8% for 200 mg/d. Overall, brivaracetam is well tolerated. The main adverse events are fatigue, dizziness, and somnolence. Immediate switch from levetiracetam to brivaracetam at a conversion ratio between 10:1 to 15:1 is feasible, and might alleviate the behavioral side effects associated with levetiracetam. Brivaracetam has the potential to perform as an important, possibly broad-spectrum AED, initially in patients with drug-refractory epilepsies. Its intravenous formulation may be a new and desirable alternative for status epilepticus, but there is so far no experience in these patients.
authors.affiliation: a Epilepsy Center Frankfurt Rhine-Main and Department of Neurology , Goethe-University , Frankfurt am Main , Germany.|b Epilepsy Center Hessen and Department of Neurology , Philipps-University , Marburg , Germany.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Strzelczyk
authors.affiliation: a Epilepsy Center Frankfurt Rhine-Main and Department of Neurology , Goethe-University , Frankfurt am Main , Germany.|b Epilepsy Center Hessen and Department of Neurology , Philipps-University , Marburg , Germany.
authors.forename: Karl Martin
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.affiliation: a Epilepsy Center Frankfurt Rhine-Main and Department of Neurology , Goethe-University , Frankfurt am Main , Germany.
authors.forename: Laurent M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Willems
authors.affiliation: a Epilepsy Center Frankfurt Rhine-Main and Department of Neurology , Goethe-University , Frankfurt am Main , Germany.|b Epilepsy Center Hessen and Department of Neurology , Philipps-University , Marburg , Germany.
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rosenow
authors.affiliation: a Epilepsy Center Frankfurt Rhine-Main and Department of Neurology , Goethe-University , Frankfurt am Main , Germany.|b Epilepsy Center Hessen and Department of Neurology , Philipps-University , Marburg , Germany.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bauer
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D011760:Pyrrolidinones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D011760:Pyrrolidinones; C482793:brivaracetam
keywords: Brivaracetam; epilepsy; myoclonus; seizure