BRIVIACT Solution for injection/infusion Ref.[116206] Active ingredients: Brivaracetam

Source: European Medicines Agency (EU)  Revision Year: 2025  Publisher: UCB Pharma S.A., Allée de la Recherche 60, B-1070 Bruxelles, Belgium

4.1. Therapeutic indications

Briviact is indicated as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial onset seizures with or without secondary generalisation in adults, adolescents and children from 2 years of age with epilepsy.

4.2. Posology and method of administration

Posology

Brivaracetam solution for injection/infusion is an alternative route of administration for patients when oral administration is temporarily not feasible. There is no experience with twice daily intravenous administration of brivaracetam for a period longer than 4 days.

The recommended posology for adults, adolescents and children from 2 years of age is summarised in the following table. The dose should be administered in two equally divided doses, approximately 12 hours apart.

Recommended starting doseRecommended maintenance
dose
Therapeutic dose range*
Adolescents and children weighing 50 kg or more, and adults
50 mg/day (or 100 mg/day)**100 mg/day50 - 200 mg/day
Adolescents and children weighing from 20 kg to less than 50 kg
1 mg/kg/day (up to 2 mg/kg/day)**2 mg/kg/day1 – 4 mg/kg/day
Children weighing from 10 kg to less than 20 kg
1 mg/kg/day (up to 2.5 mg/kg/day)**2.5 mg/kg/day1 – 5 mg/kg/day

* Based on individual patient response, the dose may be adjusted between this effective dose range.
** Based on physician's assessment of need for seizure control

Adults

Brivaracetam may be initiated with either intravenous or oral administration. When converting from oral to intravenous administration or vice versa, the total daily dose and frequency of administration should be maintained.

The recommended starting dose is either 50 mg/day or 100 mg/day based on physician's assessment of required seizure reduction versus potential side effects. Based on individual patient response and tolerability, the dose may be adjusted in the effective dose range of 50 mg/day to 200 mg/day.

Adolescents and children weighing 50 kg or more

The recommended starting dose is 50 mg/day. Brivaracetam may also be initiated at 100 mg/day based on physician's assessment of need for seizure control. The recommended maintenance dose is 100 mg/day. Based on individual patient response, the dose may be adjusted in the effective dose range of 50 mg/day to 200 mg/day.

Adolescents and children weighing from 20 kg to less than 50 kg

The recommended starting dose is 1 mg/kg/day. Brivaracetam may also be initiated at doses up to 2 mg/kg/day based on physician's assessment of need for seizure control. The recommended maintenance dose is 2 mg/kg/day. Based on individual patient response, the dose may be adjusted in the effective dose range of 1 mg/kg/day to 4 mg/kg/day.

Children weighing from 10 kg to less than 20 kg

The recommended starting dose is 1 mg/kg/day. Brivaracetam may also be initiated at doses up to 2.5 mg/kg/day based on physician's assessment of need for seizure control. The recommended maintenance dose is 2.5 mg/kg/day. Based on individual patient response, the dose may be adjusted in the effective dose range of 1 mg/kg/day to 5 mg/kg/day.

Missed doses

If patients missed one dose or more, it is recommended that they take a single dose as soon as they remember and take the following dose at the usual morning or evening time. This may avoid the brivaracetam plasma concentration falling below the efficacy level and prevent breakthrough seizures from occurring.

Discontinuation

For patients from 16 years of age, if brivaracetam has to be discontinued, it is recommended that the dose is reduced gradually by 50 mg/day on a weekly basis.

For patients below the age of 16 years, if brivaracetam has to be discontinued, it is recommended that the dose is reduced by a maximum of half the dose every week until a dose of 1 mg/kg/day (for patients with a body weight less than 50 kg) or 50 mg/day (for patients with body weight of 50 kg or more) is reached.

After 1 week of treatment at 50 mg/day, a final week of treatment at the dose of 20 mg/day is recommended.

Special populations

Elderly (65 years of age and above)

No dose adjustment is needed in elderly patients (see section 5.2).

The clinical experience in patients ≥65 years is limited.

Renal impairment

No dose adjustment is needed in patients with impaired renal function (see section 5.2). Brivaracetam is not recommended in end-stage renal disease patients undergoing dialysis due to lack of data. Based on data in adults, no dose adjustment is necessary in paediatric patients with impaired renal function. No clinical data are available in paediatric patients with renal impairment.

Hepatic impairment

Exposure to brivaracetam was increased in adult patients with chronic liver disease.

In patients with hepatic impairment, the following adjusted doses, administered in 2 divided doses, approximately 12 hours apart, are recommended for all stages of hepatic impairment (see sections 4.4 and 5.2). No clinical data are available in paediatric patients with hepatic impairment.

Age and body weightRecommended starting
dose
Recommended
maximum daily dose
Adolescents and children weighing 50 kg or
more, and adults
50 mg/day150 mg/day
Adolescents and children weighing from 20 kg to
less than 50 kg
1 mg/kg/day3 mg/kg/day
Children weighing from 10 kg to less than 20 kg1 mg/kg/day4 mg/kg/day

Paediatric patients less than 2 years of age

The efficacy of brivaracetam in paediatric patients aged less than 2 years has not yet been established. Currently available data are described in section 4.8, 5.1, and 5.2 but no recommendation on a posology can be made.

Method of administration

Intravenous bolus: brivaracetam may be administered as an intravenous bolus without dilution.

Intravenous infusion: brivaracetam may be diluted in a compatible diluent and administered as a 15-minute intravenous infusion (see section 6.6). This medicinal product must not be mixed with other medicinal products.

Brivaracetam bolus injection or intravenous infusion has not been studied in acute conditions; e.g. status epilepticus and is therefore not recommended for such conditions

4.9. Overdose

Symptoms

There is limited clinical experience with brivaracetam overdose in humans. Somnolence and dizziness have been reported in a healthy subject taking a single dose of 1,400 mg of brivaracetam.

The following adverse reactions were reported with brivaracetam overdose: nausea, vertigo, balance disorder, anxiety, fatigue, irritability, aggression, insomnia, depression, and suicidal ideation in the post-marketing experience. In general, the adverse reactions associated with brivaracetam overdose were consistent with the known adverse reactions.

Management of overdose

There is no specific antidote for overdose with brivaracetam. Treatment of an overdose should include general supportive measures. Since less than 10 % of brivaracetam is excreted in urine, haemodialysis is not expected to significantly enhance brivaracetam clearance (see section 5.2).

6.3. Shelf life

4 years.

Following dilution, brivaracetam solution for injection/infusion was found to be physically compatible and chemically stable when mixed with the diluents listed in the section 6.6 for 24 hours and stored in PVC or polyolefin bags at temperature up to 25°C. From a microbiological point of view, the product should be used immediately after dilution. If not used immediately, in-use storage time and conditions prior to use are the responsibility of the user.

6.4. Special precautions for storage

This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.

For storage conditions after dilution of the medicinal product, see section 6.3.

6.5. Nature and contents of container

6 ml nominal capacity glass vials (type I) with siliconized bromobutyl rubber stoppers and sealed with an aluminium/polypropylene tear off cap. Each single use vial contains an extractable volume of not less than 5 ml of solution for injection/infusion.

Each carton contains 10 vials.

6.6. Special precautions for disposal and other handling

This medicinal product is for single use only, any unused solution should be discarded.

Product with particulate matter or discoloration should not be used.

Brivaracetam solution for injection/infusion is physically compatible and chemically stable when mixed with the following diluents

Diluents:

  • Sodium chloride 9 mg/ml (0.9%) solution for injection
  • Glucose 50 mg/ml (5%) solution for injection
  • Lactated Ringer's solution for injection.

Any unused medicinal product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements

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