Briviact and Panic Attacks: What Users Say

• Rp3...
• August 6, 2020

For Epilepsy "This medication, Briviact, broke me mentally. I was given it as a newer, better option than what I had been on and was told it did not have mood disorders like Keppra did. I thought, great! Less meds! I was phased to a dose of 75 mg twice daily over a course of a month because I am medication resistant (having tried over 10 different types in 10 years). Everything was great until I was on my normal dose (75 mg X2) for a week. Then one day, snapped. I was crying over everything, angry, tired, suicidal thoughts flooded my head constantly. Panic attacks that got to the point where I collapsed. It feels like my brain is in constant self-destruct mode. I had to contact my doctor's emergency line to know how to stop this medication right away. It has been over a month since stopping. I still don't feel like myself. I still have horrible panic attacks and emotional breakdowns and crazy thoughts. I am working closely with my doctors to get things back to 'normal' now."

• Lil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 4, 2021

For Seizures "I wish my Dr told me this was a controlled substance. I feel horrible on it, and I feel even worse than horrible trying to get off. Tinnitus, depression, anger, irritability, panic attacks, sadness, and now in withdrawal add severe insomnia. I can't wait to get off and rest my brain. Keppra worked. This drug is nothing like it for me. And so much harder to get off than any other anti-epileptic medication I have taken."

• Bri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 2, 2022

For Seizures "I was on 1500 mg of Keppra every day after a seizure, which happened a year after brain surgery (I was on 500 mg after the surgery) to remove a benign tumor. I had major depression and irritability, aggression. I was okay most of the time, but I would go into depression if I thought about sad things, and things would set me off to the point of shouting and pounding my fists on the counter. I switched to Briviact 100 mg twice a day, and it is like night and day. The mood swings and rage issues stopped. I am not sure how it would compare to how I was before being on any meds for this, but compared to Keppra, I feel like a normal human again. I am generally a very mellow kind of person, so it's nice to return to my old self. No numbness or panic attacks except another seizure after 2 years when I had missed a dose, plus I had more alcohol than over the holidays AND it turned out I had mild Covid (had all vaccine doses, but had a slight fever), all 3 reduce the meds' effectiveness."

• Ane...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 11, 2023

For Epilepsy "Did the job. Milder side effects than Levetiracetam. The dosage was first 100 mg/day, then by stopping, it was suggested to reduce in 6 weeks to 0 mg. Almost got all the side effects mentioned. Physical: tiredness, pulse faster, heart pain before rain or by lightning (never happened in life before), higher blood pressure, veins start to be more and more coming out to the skin surface and seem purple, red, blue, hurt, also in eyes getting more and bigger red lines, water in legs, tinnitus at least 4 times, sensitivity to light and huge open pupils, eczema patches red and rough on skin, red urine often. Not enough water to have proper menstruation and sexual need and no liquid. Mental: anxiety, anger, short temper (destroying things), deep long sadness most days, panic, avoiding people for months, feeling burdened if I have to talk, unmotivation to do anything, irritability, few times felt like suicidal. Finished taking it in 3 weeks."

• Ano...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 17, 2023

For Epilepsy "I was on Keppra for 5 years, 2017 to 2022. Switched to Briviact in 2022 and have now been on it for 1 year. I had all side effects while on both medications, but Briviact has been the worst. I had my first anxiety attack/panic attack, and all side effects have increased significantly since being on Briviact. I have been seizure-free for the past 3 years, and I just want to come off of the medication, but my neuro won't let me. My neuro is keeping me on the medication and is asking for me to seek psychiatric help for the side effects I'm experiencing."