brivaracetam vs clobazam
Side-by-side comparison of brivaracetam and clobazam Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Briviact
Onfi, Sympazan
Brivaracetam is a medicine used to treat partial-onset seizures. It helps to reduce the number of seizures you have.
Clobazam oral suspension is a medicine used with other medicines to treat seizures caused by Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. It is a type of drug called a benzodiazepine.
Brivaracetam is used to treat partial-onset seizures. These seizures start in one part of the brain. It can be used alone or with other seizure medicines for people 1 month and older.
Clobazam oral suspension is used to treat seizures in people 2 years and older who have Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS). LGS is a severe form of epilepsy that begins in childhood. This medicine helps to control seizures when used with other seizure medicines.
Brivaracetam binds to a protein in the brain called SV2A. This helps to reduce the electrical activity in the brain that causes seizures. It helps to stabilize nerve cells.
Clobazam belongs to a class of drugs called benzodiazepines. It works by affecting certain chemicals in the brain that may be unbalanced in people with seizures. This helps to reduce the frequency of seizures.
- • Feeling sleepy or tired
- • Dizziness
- • Fatigue
- • Nausea or vomiting
- • Constipation
- • Sleepiness or drowsiness
- • Fever
- • Sluggishness
- • Drooling
- Seizure 2,902
- Using the medicine for a condition it's not approved for 1,036
- The medicine is not working 896
- Tiredness 518
- Sleepiness 442
- Seizure 4,619
- Medicine not working 3,007
- Using medicine for unapproved condition 2,034
- Sleepiness 1,798
- Medicine interaction 1,123
Brivaracetam can cause suicidal thoughts or actions. Watch for new or worsening depression, suicidal thoughts or behavior, or unusual changes in mood. Tell your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms. Do not stop taking brivaracetam suddenly, as this may increase your risk of seizures.
Clobazam can cause serious side effects: * **Risk of Using with Opioids:** Taking clobazam with opioid medicines can cause severe sleepiness, slowed breathing, coma, and death. Only take them together if no other treatment works, and use the lowest dose for the shortest time. * **Risk of Abuse, Misuse, and Addiction:** Clobazam can be abused, misused, and lead to addiction, overdose or death. Your doctor will assess your risk before and during treatment. * **Risk of Dependence and Withdrawal:** Taking clobazam can lead to physical dependence. Stopping it suddenly can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms. To stop, your doctor will slowly lower your dose.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. There is a pregnancy registry for women who take brivaracetam during pregnancy. Contact the North American Antiepileptic Drug (NAAED) Pregnancy Registry at 1-888-233-2334.
Clobazam may harm your unborn baby. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, talk to your doctor. There is a pregnancy registry for women who take anti-epilepsy drugs like clobazam. You can enroll by calling 1-888-233-2334.
How to Read This brivaracetam vs clobazam Comparison
brivaracetam is classified in the Anticonvulsant (SV2A Ligand) drug class, while clobazam sits within the Benzodiazepine (Anticonvulsant) class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, brivaracetam has 5,794 submissions while clobazam has 12,581. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between brivaracetam and clobazam — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.