title: The adverse event profile of brivaracetam: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To comprehensively evaluate the adverse events (AEs) significantly associated with brivaracetam (BRV) treatment in a large selection of randomized control trials.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted an online database search using Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Online Library, and Clinicaltrial.gov for all available randomized control trials (RCTs) that investigated the therapeutic effects of brivaracetam. Serious AEs (SAEs), withdrawal, and treatment-emergent adverse effects were then assessed for their association with brivaracetam. Finally, a meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.3 software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight RCTs with a total of 2505 patients were included in our study, 1178 of which were randomized with respect to brivaracetam (BRV). Serious AEs, overall withdrawal, AE-related withdrawal and psychiatric adverse events (PAEs) were not significantly associated with BRV treatment. BRV was also not significantly associated with a heightened risk of AE-related withdrawal and PAEs with increasing doses. Of the 17 AEs included in our meta-analysis, three AEs (dizziness, fatigue, and back pain) were found to be significantly associated with BRV treatment. But we did not find that the risk of them was obviously increasing with the increasing doses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This meta-analysis showed that BRV treatment was reasonably tolerated by patients and rarely caused serious AEs. Further clinical studies will be needed to more concretely determine the safety and tolerability profile of BRV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Wai Nan Guo Xue Lane 37#, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China. Electronic address: Angelinazhuzhu@163.com.
authors.forename: Li-Na
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Wai Nan Guo Xue Lane 37#, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China. Electronic address: jerry.k.d@163.com.
authors.forename: Deng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Wai Nan Guo Xue Lane 37#, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China. Electronic address: 417358610@qq.com.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Wai Nan Guo Xue Lane 37#, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China. Electronic address: 498688793@qq.com.
authors.forename: Da
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Wai Nan Guo Xue Lane 37#, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China. Electronic address: 13608223283@163.com.
authors.forename: Si-Han
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Wai Nan Guo Xue Lane 37#, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China. Electronic address: zjllxx1968@163.com.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016206:Databases, Bibliographic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011760:Pyrrolidinones / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D011760:Pyrrolidinones; C482793:brivaracetam
keywords: Adverse effects; Antiepileptic drug; Brivaracetam