Outcome Analysis in Epilepsy Patients Undergoing Switchover from Levetiracetam to Brivaracetam
Background and Aim: Epilepsy is a chronic noncommunicable disorder causing repeated seizures, which are characterized by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain. There are various pharmacotherapeutic classes of drugs that can be used to treat this disorder. This study aims to compare two such dr...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Archives of Medicine and Health Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/amhs.amhs_196_24 |
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| Summary: | Background and Aim:
Epilepsy is a chronic noncommunicable disorder causing repeated seizures, which are characterized by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain. There are various pharmacotherapeutic classes of drugs that can be used to treat this disorder. This study aims to compare two such drugs – levetiracetam (LEV) and brivaracetam (BRV) – belonging to the class of synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A antiepileptics on the basis of safety, efficacy, and cost.
Materials and Methods:
This ambispective study was conducted from April 2021 to April 2023 on 65 patients admitted to the neurology department of a tertiary care center. Effectiveness was assessed based on seizure recurrence rates and seizure frequency reduction. The safety profile included tolerability of dose modifications and treatment-emergent adverse events. Cost-effectiveness was evaluated by comparing medication costs and health-care resource utilization.
Results:
Preliminary results from 65 patients showed a statistically significant reduction in seizure frequency after the switch to BRV (P < 0.01). Adverse events were similar between the two drugs, with fewer reports of psychiatric side effects in the BRV group. Cost-effectiveness analysis demonstrated that BRV was associated with lower medication costs.
Conclusion:
Switching from LEV to BRV appears to be an effective and safe strategy for managing epilepsy patients with improved seizure control and safety profile. The cost-effectiveness analysis suggests potential economic benefits, mainly due to lower medication costs associated with BRV. These findings highlight the importance of considering BRV as a viable alternative in epilepsy management, especially for patients experiencing inadequate seizure control or intolerability with LEV. |
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| ISSN: | 2321-4848 2321-6085 |