brivaracetam vs perampanel
Side-by-side comparison of brivaracetam and perampanel Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Briviact
Fycompa
Brivaracetam is a medicine used to treat partial-onset seizures. It helps to reduce the number of seizures you have.
Perampanel is a medicine used to treat seizures. It works by reducing the activity of certain chemicals in the brain that can cause seizures.
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.
Perampanel is used to treat partial-onset seizures in people with epilepsy who are 4 years and older. It can be used alone or with other seizure medicines. It is also used with other medicines to treat primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in people with epilepsy who are 12 years and older.
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.
Perampanel blocks a specific receptor in the brain called the AMPA glutamate receptor. By blocking this receptor, perampanel reduces the excessive brain activity that leads to seizures. This helps to control seizures.
- • Feeling sleepy or tired
- • Dizziness
- • Fatigue
- • Nausea or vomiting
- • Dizziness
- • Sleepiness
- • Tiredness
- • Irritability
- • Falls
- 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 1,098
- Medicine not working 1,044
- Using the medicine for something it's not approved for 728
- Sleepiness 491
- Aggression 485
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.
Perampanel can cause serious mental and behavior changes, including aggression, hostility, irritability, anger, and thoughts of harming yourself or others. Tell your doctor right away if you have any of these changes. Your doctor may need to lower your dose or stop the medicine. Watch for these changes especially when starting perampanel or when your dose is increased.
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.
Perampanel 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 perampanel. It is not known if perampanel passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor before breastfeeding.
How to Read This brivaracetam vs perampanel Comparison
brivaracetam is classified in the Anticonvulsant (SV2A Ligand) drug class, while perampanel sits within the Anticonvulsant (AMPA Antagonist) 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 perampanel has 3,846. 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 perampanel — 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.