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BRIVA‐LIFE–A multicenter retrospective study of the long‐term use of brivaracetam in clinical practice.
- Source :
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Acta Neurologica Scandinavica . Apr2019, Vol. 139 Issue 4, p360-368. 9p. - Publication Year :
- 2019
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Abstract
- Objectives: Evaluate long‐term effectiveness and tolerability of brivaracetam in clinical practice in patients with focal epilepsy. Materials and Methods: This was a multicenter retrospective study. Patients aged ≥16 years were started on brivaracetam from November 2016 to June 2017 and followed over 1 year. Data were obtained from medical records at 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment initiation for evaluation of safety‐ and seizure‐related outcomes. Results: A total of 575 patients were included in analyses; most had been treated with ≥4 lifetime antiepileptic drugs. Target dosage was achieved by 30.6% of patients on the first day. Analysis of primary variables at 12 months revealed that mean reduction in seizure frequency was 36.0%, 39.7% of patients were ≥50% responders and 17.5% were seizure‐free. Seizure‐freedom was achieved by 37.5% of patients aged ≥65 years. Incidence of adverse events (AEs) and psychiatric AEs (PAEs) was 39.8% and 14.3%, respectively, and discontinuation due to these was 8.9% and 3.7%, respectively. Somnolence, irritability, and dizziness were the most frequently reported AEs. At baseline, 228 (39.7%) patients were being treated with levetiracetam; most switched to brivaracetam (dose ratio 1:10‐15). Among those who switched because of PAEs (n = 53), 9 (17%) reported PAEs on brivaracetam, and 3 (5.7%) discontinued because of PAEs. Tolerability was not highly affected among patients with learning disability or psychiatric comorbidity. Conclusions: In a large population of patients with predominantly drug‐resistant epilepsy, brivaracetam was effective and well‐tolerated; no unexpected AEs occurred over 1 year, and the incidence of PAEs was lower compared with levetiracetam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *RETROSPECTIVE studies
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00016314
- Volume :
- 139
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Acta Neurologica Scandinavica
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 135292764
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/ane.13059