brivaracetam vs lacosamide
Side-by-side comparison of brivaracetam and lacosamide Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Briviact
Vimpat
Brivaracetam is a medicine used to treat partial-onset seizures. It helps to reduce the number of seizures you have.
Lacosamide is a medicine that can help control seizures. It is used to treat partial-onset seizures and primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in people 4 years and older.
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.
Lacosamide is used to treat partial-onset seizures in patients 4 years of age and older. It is also used with other medicines to treat primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in patients 4 years of age and older. Seizures are caused by unusual electrical activity in the brain.
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.
Lacosamide is an anticonvulsant. It is thought to work by slowing down the electrical signals in the brain that cause seizures. This helps to reduce how often seizures happen.
- • Feeling sleepy or tired
- • Dizziness
- • Fatigue
- • Nausea or vomiting
- • Double vision
- • Headache
- • Dizziness
- • Feeling sick to your stomach
- • Sleepiness
- 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 6,507
- Medicine not working 3,936
- Using medicine for unapproved purpose 3,757
- Feeling dizzy 1,611
- Sleepiness 1,404
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.
Lacosamide and other anti-seizure medicines may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions. Tell your doctor right away if you have any new or worsening symptoms of depression, suicidal thoughts, or unusual changes in mood or behavior. Lacosamide can also cause heart rhythm problems. Get an ECG before starting and during treatment.
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.
Lacosamide may harm an unborn baby. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking lacosamide. There is a pregnancy registry for women who take anti-epileptic drugs like lacosamide.
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How to Read This brivaracetam vs lacosamide Comparison
brivaracetam is classified in the Anticonvulsant (SV2A Ligand) drug class, while lacosamide sits within the 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 lacosamide has 17,215. 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 lacosamide — 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.