Here are some terms that you may hear about seizures, seizure medication, and more. Understanding these words can help you understand your condition.
AMPA receptor:
A type of receptor on nerve cells that helps receive signals. When they receive too many signals, a seizure can happen.
Antiepileptic drug (AED):
A medication used to treat different types of seizures. Also may be called an anticonvulsant.
Breakthrough seizures:
Seizures that happen in spite of successful treatment with antiseizure medication(s).
Complex partial seizures:
Seizures that start in one part of the brain. Awareness is affected.
Convulsive seizure:
Seizures that, regardless of origin, include involuntary convulsive or jerking movements, most often with loss of consciousness.
Epilepsy:
A group of related disorders in which a person is at risk of having recurrent unprovoked seizures.
Focal seizures:
Another term that means "partial-onset seizure." These types of seizures start in one part of the brain.
Generalized seizure:
Seizures that start in both sides of the brain at the same time.
Grand mal seizures:
Another term that means "primary generalized tonic-clonic seizure (PGTC)."
Partial-onset seizures:
Seizures that start in one part of the brain. Also known as a focal seizure.
Primary generalized tonic-clonic seizure:
This type of seizure starts in both sides of the brain at the same time. During the seizure, muscles become stiff and then make jerking movements. Also known as a grand mal seizure.
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Primary means the seizure happens without another one happening first
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Generalized means it starts in both sides of the brain at the same time
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Tonic is the first stage of the seizure, when the muscles stiffen
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Clonic is the second stage, when the muscles begin to jerk rapidly
Seizures:
Manifestations of uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain. They can affect how people feel, move, act, or think for a brief period of time.
Side effects:
Unwanted symptoms caused by medical treatment.
Simple partial seizures:
Seizures that start in one part of the brain. Awareness is not affected.
Tonic-clonic seizures:
Seizures that cause muscles to become stiff and then make jerking movements.
Seizure triggers:
Things that can cause a seizure to happen. Two examples are flashing lights and stress.
USES AND IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
What is FYCOMPA (perampanel)?
FYCOMPA is a prescription medicine used alone or with other medicines to treat partial-onset seizures with or without secondarily generalized seizures in people with epilepsy aged 4 and older and with other medicines to treat primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in people with epilepsy aged 12 and older.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
FYCOMPA may cause mental (psychiatric) problems, including:
new or worse aggressive behavior (including homicidal behavior), hostility, anger, anxiety, or irritability; being suspicious or distrustful (believing things that are not true); seeing objects or hearing things that are not there; confusion; difficulty with memory; other unusual or extreme changes in behavior or mood. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new or worsening mental problems while taking FYCOMPA.
What is FYCOMPA (perampanel)?
FYCOMPA is a prescription medicine used alone or with other medicines to treat partial-onset seizures with or without secondarily generalized seizures in people with epilepsy aged 4 and older and with other medicines to treat primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in people with epilepsy aged 12 and older.
Like other antiepileptic drugs, FYCOMPA may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people, about 1 in 500. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you:
thoughts about suicide or dying; new or worse depression; feeling agitated or restless; trouble sleeping (insomnia); acting aggressive; being angry, or violent; an extreme increase in activity and talking (mania); attempt to commit suicide; new or worse anxiety; panic attacks; new or worse irritability; acting on dangerous impulses; other unusual changes in behavior or mood. Suicidal thoughts or actions can be caused by things other than medicines. If you have suicidal thoughts or actions, your healthcare provider may check for other causes.
Pay attention to any changes especially sudden changes in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings and keep all follow-up visits with your healthcare provider as scheduled. Call your healthcare provider between visits as needed, especially if you are worried about symptoms.
Do not stop FYCOMPA without first talking with your healthcare provider.
Stopping suddenly can cause serious problems and can cause you to have seizures more often.
Before taking FYCOMPA, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
have or have had depression, mood problems, aggressive or hostile behavior (for example, homicidal behavior), suicidal thoughts or behavior, or other psychiatric problems; have liver or kidney problems; drink alcohol; have abused prescription medicines, street drugs, or alcohol in the past; are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if FYCOMPA will harm your unborn baby. If you become pregnant while taking FYCOMPA, talk to your healthcare provider about registering with the North American Antiepileptic Drug Pregnancy Registry (1-888-233-2334)(1-888-233-2334); are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby if you take FYCOMPA and to decide if you will take FYCOMPA or breastfeed. You should not do both.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take,
including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Taking FYCOMPA with certain other medicines can cause side effects or reduce either drug’s benefit. These medicines include: birth control, carbamazepine, phenytoin, oxcarbazepine, rifampin, and St. John’s Wort.
What should I avoid while taking FYCOMPA?
Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how FYCOMPA affects you. FYCOMPA may make you dizzy, sleepy, or tired. Do not drink alcohol or take other medicines that make you sleepy or dizzy until you talk to your healthcare provider. FYCOMPA taken with alcohol or medicines that cause sleepiness or dizziness may make your sleepiness or dizziness worse. FYCOMPA when taken with alcohol may also make your mood worse, increase anger, confusion, and depression.
FYCOMPA may cause other serious side effects, including: Dizziness, vertigo (sense of spinning), and problems walking normally.
You may have problems walking normally if you are unsteady because you feel dizzy. These symptoms can increase when your dose of FYCOMPA is increased. Your risk of feeling dizzy and having problems walking normally may be higher if you are elderly; Sleepiness and tiredness; Increased risk of falls. Taking FYCOMPA can increase your chance of falling. These falls can cause serious injuries. Your risk of falling may be higher if you are elderly; A serious allergic reaction that may affect your skin or other parts of your body such as your liver, kidneys, heart, or blood cells. This allergic reaction can be life-threatening and can cause death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have: a skin rash, hives; fever or swollen glands that do not go away; swelling of your face; shortness of breath; swelling of the legs; yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes; or dark urine
The most common side effects of FYCOMPA include:
dizziness; sleepiness; tiredness; irritability; falls; nausea and vomiting; weight gain; vertigo (sense of spinning); problems walking normally; problems with muscle coordination; headache; bruising; abdominal pain; anxiety
FYCOMPA is a controlled substance (CIII) because it can be abused or lead to drug dependence. Keep FYCOMPA in a safe place to protect it from theft and never give it to anyone else because it may harm them. Selling or giving away FYCOMPA is against the law.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-10881-800-FDA-1088.
Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for FYCOMPA.