What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider Before Taking Dalfampridine?
You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking
dalfampridine (
Ampyra™) if you have:
- Ever had a seizure
- Kidney disease, such as kidney failure (renal failure)
- Any allergies, including to foods, dyes, or preservatives.
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
- Pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
- Breastfeeding.
Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about all other medications you are taking, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Specific Dalfampridine Warnings and Precautions
Some warnings and precautions to be aware of prior to taking dalfampridine include the following:
- Dalfampridine may increase the risk of seizures. If you have ever had a seizure (for any reason), you should not take this medication. If you have a seizure while taking dalfampridine, you should stop taking the medication (and should never start taking it again).
- The kidneys remove dalfampridine from the body. If your kidneys are not functioning properly, this drug may build up in the bloodstream, increasing your risk of seizures. People with moderate or severe kidney impairment should not take this medicine. At this time, it is not known how dalfampridine may affect people with only mild kidney impairment, although it is predicted that the risk of seizures may be increased.
- Dalfampridine, sometimes known as 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) or fampridine, is the generic name for Ampyra. Do not take Ampyra with other 4-aminopyridine or fampridine medications. There are no other 4-aminopyridine or fampridine medications approved by the FDA (other than Ampyra), although such medications may be available through compounding pharmacies.
- Dalfampridine is considered a pregnancy Category C medication. This means that it may not be safe for use during pregnancy, although the full risks are not known (see Ampyra and Pregnancy).
- It is unknown if dalfampridine passes through breast milk. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding or plan to start breastfeeding, discuss this with your healthcare provider prior to taking the drug (see Ampyra and Breastfeeding).
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