perampanel

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Pronunciation: per AM pa nel

Brand: Fycompa

What is the most important information I should know about perampanel?

Some people taking perampanel have had serious psychotic effects, especially when starting this medicine or changing doses. Stay alert to changes in your mood or symptoms.

Call your doctor right away if you have any changes in mood or behavior changes, personality changes, thoughts about suicide, or thoughts about hurting others. Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms.

What is perampanel?

Perampanel is an anticonvulsant used to treat seizures in adults and children who are at least 12 years old.

Perampanel may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking perampanel?

You should not use perampanel if you are allergic to it, or if you have severe liver disease.

To make sure perampanel is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

  • liver disease;
  • kidney disease;
  • a history of depression or mental illness; or
  • a history of alcoholism or drug addiction.

Some people taking perampanel have had serious psychotic effects such as anger, aggression, feeling hostile or irritable, and thoughts about hurting others. These effects may be more likely to occur when you first start taking perampanel, or whenever your dose is changed. Your doctor should check your progress at regular visits. Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms.

Do not start or stop taking seizure medication during pregnancy without your doctor's advice. Having a seizure during pregnancy could harm both mother and baby. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant.

Perampanel can make certain birth control pills less effective. Ask your doctor about using non-hormonal birth control (condom, diaphragm with spermicide) to prevent pregnancy while taking perampanel.

If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry. This is to track the outcome of the pregnancy and to evaluate any effects of perampanel on the baby.

It is not known whether perampanel passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.

Perampanel is not approved for use by anyone younger than 12 years old.

How should I take perampanel?

Perampanel is usually taken at bedtime. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results. Do not use this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Perampanel may be habit-forming. Never share perampanel with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it. Selling or giving away this medicine is against the law.

Shake the oral suspension (liquid) well just before you measure a dose. Measure liquid medicine with the dosing syringe provided, or with a special dose-measuring spoon or medicine cup. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

Do not stop using any other seizure medications suddenly, even if you feel fine. Stopping suddenly may cause increased seizures. Follow your doctor's instructions about tapering your dose.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Keep track of the amount of medicine used from each new bottle. Perampanel may be a drug of abuse and you should be aware if anyone is using your medicine improperly or without a prescription.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Call your doctor for instructions if you miss your perampanel dose for more than one day.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What should I avoid while taking perampanel?

This medication may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of perampanel.

What are the possible side effects of perampanel?

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using perampanel and call your doctor at once if you have a side effect such as:

  • changes in mood, behavior, or personality;
  • anger, aggression, anxiety, trouble sleeping, feeling hostile or irritable;
  • talking more than usual;
  • unusual thoughts, paranoid behavior, panic attacks;
  • thoughts about suicide, or thoughts about hurting someone else;
  • trouble walking, loss of balance or coordination;
  • an accidental fall; or
  • severe dizziness, spinning sensation, feeling like you might pass out.

Accidental falls may occur more often in elderly patients who take perampanel. Use caution to avoid falling or accidental injury while taking this medicine.

Common side effects may include:

  • dizziness, drowsiness;
  • feeling anxious, tired, or irritable;
  • nausea, vomiting, stomach pain;
  • bruising;
  • weight gain; or
  • headache, joint pain, back pain.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect perampanel?

Taking this medicine with other drugs that make you sleepy can worsen this effect. Ask your doctor before taking perampanel with a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety or depression.

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially:

  • birth control pills;
  • rifampin;
  • St. John's wort;
  • other seizure medicine--carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenytoin.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with perampanel, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about perampanel.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

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