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Willems LM, Bauer S, Rosenow F, Strzelczyk A. Recent advances in the pharmacotherapy of epilepsy: brivaracetam and perampanel as broad-spectrum antiseizure drugs for the treatment of epilepsies and status epilepticus. Expert Opin Pharmacother 2019; 20:1755-1765. [DOI: 10.1080/14656566.2019.1637420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Laurent Maximilian Willems
- Epilepsy Center Frankfurt Rhine-Main and Department of Neurology, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- LOEWE Center for Personalized Translational Epilepsy Research (CePTER), Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Sebastian Bauer
- Epilepsy Center Frankfurt Rhine-Main and Department of Neurology, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- LOEWE Center for Personalized Translational Epilepsy Research (CePTER), Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Felix Rosenow
- Epilepsy Center Frankfurt Rhine-Main and Department of Neurology, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- LOEWE Center for Personalized Translational Epilepsy Research (CePTER), Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Adam Strzelczyk
- Epilepsy Center Frankfurt Rhine-Main and Department of Neurology, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- LOEWE Center for Personalized Translational Epilepsy Research (CePTER), Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Epilepsy Center Hessen and Department of Neurology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg (Lahn), Germany
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Abstract
Introduction: Brivaracetam (BRV) is an analog of levetiracetam (LEV) with 15-30 times greater affinity to SV2A and greater brain permeability than LEV. These properties have stimulated interest in its clinical trial data and post-marketing experience. Areas covered: The authors provide a background on epilepsy and its treatment, discuss the racetam family of antiepileptic drugs to which BRV belongs, and then discuss BRV properties and its efficacy and tolerability in the treatment of epilepsy. Expert opinion: While preclinical data suggest a broad spectrum of efficacy, BRV is only approved for focal epilepsy. The recommended starting dose is 100 mg per day, but in the absence of urgency, it may be prudent to start at 50 mg per day, considered the lowest effective dose. There was no added benefit when BRV was used adjunctively with LEV in clinical trials. However, post-marketing data suggest that some patients may experience improved seizure control when switching from LEV. Behavioral adverse effects seemed less common than with LEV, and most patients switched to BRV after experiencing behavioral adverse effects on LEV reported improvement. Prior or anticipated intolerability to LEV is the strongest indication for BRV in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yamane Makke
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center , Nashville , TN , USA
| | - Bassel Abou-Khalil
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center , Nashville , TN , USA
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Tolerability, efficacy and retention rate of Brivaracetam in patients previously treated with Levetiracetam: A monocenter retrospective outcome analysis. Seizure 2018; 61:98-103. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2018.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Revised: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
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Zahnert F, Krause K, Immisch I, Habermehl L, Gorny I, Chmielewska I, Möller L, Weyand AM, Mross PM, Wagner J, Menzler K, Knake S. Brivaracetam in the Treatment of Patients with Epilepsy-First Clinical Experiences. Front Neurol 2018; 9:38. [PMID: 29467714 PMCID: PMC5808159 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2018.00038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2017] [Accepted: 01/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives To assess first clinical experiences with brivaracetam (BRV) in the treatment of epilepsies. Methods Data on patients treated with BRV from February to December 2016 and with at least one clinical follow-up were collected from electronic patient records. Data on safety and efficacy were evaluated retrospectively. Results In total, 93 patients were analyzed; 12 (12.9%) received BRV in monotherapy. The mean duration to follow-up was 4.85 months (MD = 4 months; SD = 3.63). Fifty-seven patients had more than one seizure per month at baseline and had a follow-up of more than 4 weeks; the rate of ≥50% responders was 35.1% (n = 20) in this group, of which five (8.8%) patients were newly seizure-free. In 50.5% (47/93), patients were switched from levetiracetam (LEV) to BRV, of which 43 (46.2%) were switched immediately. Adverse events (AE) occurred in 39.8%, with 22.6% experiencing behavioral and 25.8% experiencing non-behavioral AE. LEV-related AE (LEV-AE) were significantly reduced by switching to BRV. The discontinuation of BRV was reported in 26/93 patients (28%); 10 of those were switched back to LEV with an observed reduction of AE in 70%. For clinical reasons, 12 patients received BRV in monotherapy, 75% were seizure–free, and previous LEV-AE improved in 6/9 patients. BRV-related AE occurred in 5/12 cases, and five patients discontinued BRV. Conclusion BRV seems to be a safe, easy, and effective option in the treatment of patients with epilepsy, especially in the treatment of patients who have psychiatric comorbidities and might not be good candidates for LEV treatment. BRV broadens the therapeutic spectrum and facilitates personalized treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Zahnert
- Department of Neurology, Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Kristina Krause
- Department of Neurology, Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Ilka Immisch
- Department of Neurology, Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Lena Habermehl
- Department of Neurology, Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Iris Gorny
- Department of Neurology, Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Izabella Chmielewska
- Department of Neurology, Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Leona Möller
- Department of Neurology, Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Anna M Weyand
- Department of Neurology, Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Peter M Mross
- Department of Neurology, Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Jan Wagner
- Department of Neurology, Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Katja Menzler
- Department of Neurology, Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Susanne Knake
- Department of Neurology, Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
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