Tools & Support

Welcome to your road trip with FYCOMPA!

True to any road trip, we need to map out our journey and figure out places to stop along the way. Get in and let’s get started!

Your journey starts here

Let’s get to know your seizure type(s) to figure out the best road trip for you!

SEIZURES WITH CONVULSIONS

Partial-onset seizures that secondarily generalize

Primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures

Start on one side of the brain and spread to the other

Start on both sides of the brain at the same time

  • Usually last 1 to 2 minutes
  • Happen without warning
  • Stiffening or jerking movements can be strong or forceful
  • Loss of consciousness, falling to the floor
  • Breathing can be temporarily impaired
  • No memory of the event happening

SEIZURES WITHOUT CONVULSIONS

Partial-onset seizures that do not secondarily generalize

Happen in one part of the brain

  • Usually last less than 2 minutes
  • Experiences can vary depending on where in the brain the seizure occurs
  • Stiffening or jerking movements
  • Changes in smell, taste, and hearing
  • Strange sensations in the body can occur or affect how people think or experience events
  • Sometimes memory is lost

Guides to find your way

Your map is the first step to show you how to get where you want to go, and also to see how far you've traveled! This treatment guide will be your go-to whenever you need help finding your route, and tracking your successes along the way.

Treatment guide

It can be easy to forget what questions you may have or what you want to say to your doctor. This guide is a way to make sure you have all your points ready for your next appointment. Download the discussion guide for your next doctor’s visit.

Discussion guide

Make time for rest stops

Don’t forget to take time to recharge on your journey. FYCOMPA has resources for caregivers of those with epilepsy, including help for pediatric patients.

Tips to help you keep going:

  • Reach out to others for support. When people offer help, accept!
  • Get in touch with other caregivers online so you can learn from each other 
  • Don’t forget to care for yourself! Stay healthy with exercise, the right food, and enough sleep* 
  • Avoid stressful situations when you can and take time for yourself (without feeling guilty about it)
  • Get the MEDIKIDZ® Comic Book here
*Talk with your healthcare provider before starting a new diet or exercise routine.
†Used alone or with other medicines to treat partial-onset seizures with or without secondarily generalized seizures.

Hear from others who have gone the same route

Leslie talks about how epilepsy has
impacted the relationships in her life
Nick talks about being diagnosed
with epilepsy at a young age
Shantia tells her story about
finding the right treatment

What to look forward to on the way

Learn what to expect with FYCOMPA.

The path to finding the right antiseizure medication might seem like a faraway destination, but it could be closer than you think! Here’s how FYCOMPA is thought to work:

FYCOMPA works differently from other antiseizure drugs. It is the first and only antiseizure medication that targets a specific receptor in the brain called “AMPA.” This receptor plays a role in allowing seizures to happen. As with many other seizure medications, the way FYCOMPA works is not fully understood.

Navigating new territory

Adjusting to your treatment can take time, here are some things to look out for to help you avoid potential roadblocks.

Record your triggers and keep your doctor up to date on side effects you may be experiencing.

Common seizure triggers: Do any of these affect you?

Click on the ones you know about—and keep an eye on the others. It isn’t always easy, but you may be able to avoid some triggers.

CERTAIN TIMES

CERTAIN STIMULI OR SUBSTANCES

PHYSICAL HEALTH AND CARE

Make sure your doctor and care team are always up to date about your triggers as well!

Once you’ve hit the open road

Your journey is just beginning, but you’re not alone!

Finding your stable dosage is another step closer to seizure control!‡ Keep taking FYCOMPA as prescribed, stay connected with your doctor’s office and let them know if:

  • You experience a seizure (it might be time for a dose adjustment)
  • You have side effects
  • You miss a dose more than once
  • You have questions

‡In clinical trials, some patients taking FYCOMPA experienced fewer seizures. Individual results may vary.

Please read the Medication Guide, including the information about serious mental (psychiatric) problems. The Medication Guide does not take the place of talking with your healthcare provider about your condition or your treatment.

Find your travel buddies

Remember your goals from earlier in your journey? Go back and celebrate your milestones with a family member, partner, or close friend!

REFERENCE: 1. FYCOMPA US Prescribing Information. Coral Gables, FL: Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

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-1088.

Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for FYCOMPA.