As you may already know, whether you’re caring for a loved one, caring for yourself, or are parents caring for a child, it’s important to look beyond managing seizures and consider overall physical and emotional health.
For the person with epilepsy, this includes:
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Taking medicines as prescribed
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Avoiding seizure triggers whenever possible
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Practicing self-care
Stay up to date with FYCOMPA
400,000 people worldwide have been prescribed FYCOMPA, and the community continues to grow! *,†
Get access to additional information and resources about seizures and epilepsy care.
*Worldwide figure through March 2021. Nearly 50,000 patients prescribed FYCOMPA in the United States †Across all indications
Create a Seizure Action Plan
Work with your loved one and their doctor to create a Seizure Action Plan. Your loved one can share it with people who might be able to help and carry a copy in case it's needed. Simple forms are available on the Epilepsy Foundation website.
Help your loved one take FYCOMPA exactly as prescribed
Set up a routine that is easy to follow. Missing doses can have negative effects on overall health.
Write your questions down
Write down any questions you have about epilepsy or FYCOMPA and bring them to doctor appointments.
Not sure what to ask? Access a list of helpful questions to bring up at a future doctor's appointment.
Interested in learning more about FYCOMPA?
Partner with their doctor in your loved one's care
Being a caregiver is an important role.
Help your loved one complete the Seizure Control Quiz
Learn about the possible side effects of FYCOMPA
See how Nick's mother
provided
the care he needed
as a young
child diagnosed
with epilepsy.
Download Your Treatment Guide
This guide can help you know what you may expect from FYCOMPA.
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.