Living with epilepsy can be stressful, but you don't have to face it alone.
Keep the conversation going
Keep an open channel of communication with your doctor in case you have any questions or concerns about treatment with FYCOMPA®. It can also help to talk to other people who have epilepsy. You can learn a lot from them, and they can learn a lot from you, too.
Now that you have your prescription, what’s next?
Save on FYCOMPA (see if you’re eligible)
Know what you may expect from FYCOMPA
Start taking your FYCOMPA exactly as prescribed
Understand and help manage side effects
Get to the stable daily dose your doctor recommends
How to support your own treatment
If possible, take note of when and in what circumstances the seizures have happened. Keeping a record may help your doctor determine if you have triggers—and, if so, how you can avoid them
Set up a practical routine that helps you take your seizure medication exactly as prescribed
Make your home as safe as you can in case a seizure happens
Stay healthy, eat well, and keep your stress levels as low as possible
Work with your doctor to create a Seizure Action Plan that contains your personal information and specific needs during and after a seizure. You can share with people whose help you might need and carry a copy with you in case you need it. Simple forms are available on the Epilepsy Foundation website
What you can do if you feel a seizure coming on
If you are alone, call someone you know—they may be able to help
If you are out with a companion or in public by yourself, share your Seizure Action Plan so someone knows what steps to take and what to watch out for
Let your family members and friends know that if you have a seizure, they should:
Stay close by, remain calm, and check for normal breathing
Watch the clock to see how long the seizure lasts. If it's more than 5 minutes, dial 911
Clear items from around you to keep you safe
Never try to hold you down, keep you still or put anything in your mouth during a seizure
Note what happened before the seizure to help identify any triggers
Let family members and friends know when to call for emergency help
Let them know that a seizure is not necessarily an emergency, but to call 911 if:
The seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes
Seizures happen one after another
Your breathing is not normal
You are in water when the seizure starts
The seizure causes you to get hurt
You ask them to call for help
How to get more out of your doctor visits
Ask questions that might help you take care of yourself, such as:
How can I make sure that my home, school, or workspace is safe?
Is it okay for me to drive?
What precautions should I take if I live alone?
Some people take medication, but still have seizures. If that is happening to you, let your doctor know. Better seizure control may be possible. While many medications treat seizures, your doctor may decide that taking
FYCOMPA could be a good option for you. For more questions you can ask your doctor, see the Discussion Guide.
Remember to care for your own physical, mental, and emotional well-being
Things to keep in mind:
Don't go it alone—reach out to family and friends for support. When people offer help, accept!
Stay healthy with exercise, the right food, and enough sleep
Avoid stressful situations. There are some things you cannot control. Try and stay optimistic and focused on what you can control
Treat yourself. Take a moment to do something for yourself every day
We all need to take time to relax. Try to take time for yourself without feeling guilty about it
Resources
The Epilepsy Foundation website has more information about seizures, community events, helping to reduce risk, and much, much more.
National Association of Epilepsy CentersThe National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC) can help you find an epilepsy specialist in your area.
Learn about epilepsy from the CDCFor more information about epilepsy and seizures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Talk About It Experience videosWatch the Epilepsy Foundation's Talk About It Experience videos.
The latest news, resources, and education pertaining to advancements in epilepsy research and clinical care from CURE Epilepsy.
Epilepsy care for veteransInformation on epilepsy and seizures specific for veterans.
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.