Fycompa (Perampanel)

What is Fycompa (perampanel) for?

Fycompa (perampanel) is a medication used for the adjunctive treatment of partial-onset seizures with or without secondarily generalized seizures in adult and adolescent patients from 12 years of age with epilepsy, and for the adjunctive treatment of primary generalised tonic-clonic seizures in adult and adolescent patients from 12 years of age with idiopathic generalised epilepsy^[1].

How does Fycompa (perampanel) work?

Epilepsy is caused by excessive electrical activity in the brain.

Although the precise mechanism by which Fycompa (perampanel) works is not fully understood, it is thought to block the action of the neurotransmitter glutamate. Neurotransmitters are naturally-occurring chemicals in the nervous system that allow nerve cells to communicate with each other. Glutamate is the main stimulatory neurotransmitter in nerve cells which can trigger and maintain seizures. Therefore by blocking glutamate’s actions, Fycompa (perampanel) is thought to stop epileptic seizures from occurring^[1].

Where has Fycompa (perampanel) been approved?

Fycompa (perampanel) was approved for the treatment of partial-onset seizures in adults and children older than 12 years of age by:

• FDA (USA) October 22, 2012^[5]
• EMA (EU) on July 07, 2012^[1]
• TGA (AUS) on May 23, 2014^[4]
• Health Canada on June 3, 2013^[6]

Please note that this medicine may have also been approved in other regions anf or other indications than the ones we’ve listed. If you have a question about its approval in a specific country feel free to contact our support team.

How is Fycompa (perampanel) taken?

The standard dosage of Fycompa (perampanel) is:

• at the start of treatment 2 mg per day
• if it is well tolerated it may be progressively increased by increments of 2 mg/day to a maximum dose of 12 mg per day^[1].

Patients should be monitored for signs of suicidal ideation and behaviours and appropriate treatment should be considered^[2,3,4].

Complete information about Fycompa (perampanel) dosage and administration can be in the resources section.

Consult your treating doctor for personalised dosing.

Are there any known side effects of Fycompa (perampanel)?

The most common side effects are^[1]:

• dizziness
• somnolence (sleepiness)

For a comprehensive list of side effects and adverse reactions please refer to the official prescribing information, below in the references.