Brand Name
Ampyra
Generic Name
Dalfampridine
View Brand Information FDA approval date: March 01, 2010
Classification: Potassium Channel Blocker
Form: Tablet
What is Ampyra (Dalfampridine)?
Dalfampridine extended-release tablet is indicated as a treatment to improve walking in adult patients with multiple sclerosis . This was demonstrated by an increase in walking speed. Dalfampridine extended-release tablet is a potassium channel blocker indicated to improve walking in adult patients with multiple sclerosis . This was demonstrated by an increase in walking speed .
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Brand Information
AMPYRA (Dalfampridine)
1INDICATIONS AND USAGE
AMPYRA is indicated as a treatment to improve walking in adult patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). This was demonstrated by an increase in walking speed
2DOSAGE FORMS AND STRENGTHS
AMPYRA is available in a 10 mg strength and is a film-coated, white to off-white, biconvex, oval shaped, non-scored tablet with flat edge, debossed with "A10" on one side.
3CONTRAINDICATIONS
The use of AMPYRA is contraindicated in the following conditions:
- History of seizure [
- Moderate or severe renal impairment (CrCl≤50 mL/min) [see
- History of hypersensitivity to AMPYRA or 4-aminopyridine; reactions have included anaphylaxis [see
4ADVERSE REACTIONS
The following serious adverse reactions are described in more detail elsewhere in the labeling:
- Seizures
- Anaphylaxis
4.1Clinical Trials Experience
Because clinical studies are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical studies of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical studies of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
In three placebo-controlled clinical trials of up to 14 weeks duration, 4% (15/400) of patients treated with AMPYRA 10 mg twice daily experienced one or more adverse reactions leading to discontinuation, compared to 2% (5/238) of placebo-treated patients. The adverse reactions leading to discontinuation of at least 2 patients treated with AMPYRA and that led to discontinuation more frequently compared to placebo were headache (AMPYRA 0.5%, placebo 0%), balance disorder (AMPYRA 0.5%, placebo 0%), dizziness (AMPYRA 0.5%, placebo 0%), and confusional state (AMPYRA 0.3%, placebo 0%).
Table 1 lists adverse reactions that occurred in ≥2% of patients treated with AMPYRA 10 mg twice daily, and more frequently than in placebo-treated patients, in controlled clinical trials.
Other Adverse Reactions
AMPYRA has been evaluated in a total of 1,952 subjects, including 917 MS patients. A total of 741 patients have been treated with AMPYRA for over six months, 501 for over one year and 352 for over two years. The experience in open-label clinical trials is consistent with the safety profile observed in the placebo-controlled clinical trials. As in controlled clinical trials, a dose-dependent increase in the incidence of seizures has been observed in open-label clinical trials with AMPYRA in patients with MS as follows: AMPYRA 10 mg twice daily 0.41 per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval 0.13–0.96); dalfampridine 15 mg twice daily 1.7 per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval 0.21–6.28).
4.2Postmarketing Experience
The following adverse reactions have been identified during post approval use with dalfampridine. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure: vomiting, vertigo.
5OVERDOSAGE
Three cases of overdose were reported in controlled clinical trials with AMPYRA, involving two MS patients. The first patient took six times the currently recommended dose (60 mg) and was taken to the emergency room with altered mental state. The second patient took 40 mg doses on two separate occasions. In the first instance, she experienced a complex partial seizure and, in the second instance, a period of confusion. Both patients recovered by the following day without sequelae.
Several cases of overdose are found in the scientific literature in which various formulations of dalfampridine were used, resulting in numerous adverse events including seizure, confusion, tremulousness, diaphoresis, and amnesia. In some instances, patients developed status epilepticus, requiring intensive supportive care and were responsive to standard therapy for seizures. In one published case report, an MS patient who ingested 300 mg of 4-aminopyridine (dalfampridine) developed a condition that resembled limbic encephalitis. This patient developed weakness, reduced awareness, memory loss, hypophonic speech, and temporal lobe hyperintensities on MRI. The patient's speech and language and ambulation improved over time, and an MRI at 4 months after the overdose no longer showed signal abnormalities. At one year, the patient continued to have difficulty with short term memory and learning new tasks.
6DESCRIPTION
AMPYRA (dalfampridine) is a potassium channel blocker, available in a 10 mg tablet strength. Each tablet contains 10 mg dalfampridine, formulated as an extended-release tablet for twice-daily oral administration. Dalfampridine is also known by its chemical name, 4-aminopyridine, with the following structure:
AMPYRA (dalfampridine) extended-release tablets are available in a 10 mg strength and are white to off-white, biconvex, oval shaped, film-coated, non-scored tablets with flat edge, debossed with "A10" on one side, containing 10 mg of dalfampridine. Inactive ingredients consist of colloidal silicon dioxide, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, polyethylene glycol, and titanium dioxide.
Dalfampridine is a fine white powder with a molecular weight of 94.1, CAS 504-24-5, and a molecular formula of C
7CLINICAL STUDIES
The effectiveness of AMPYRA in improving walking in patients with multiple sclerosis was evaluated in two adequate and well controlled trials involving 540 patients. Patients in these two clinical trials had a mean disease duration of 13 years and a mean Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score of 6.
Trial 1 was a randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel group, 21-week study (one week post screening, two-week, single-blind placebo run-in, 14-week double-blind treatment, and 4-week no treatment follow-up) in 301 patients with multiple sclerosis at 33 centers in the U.S. and Canada: 229 patients assigned to AMPYRA 10 mg twice daily and 72 patients assigned to placebo. A total of 283 patients (212 AMPYRA and 71 placebo) completed all study visits. Patient inclusion criteria included the ability to walk 25 feet in 8–45 seconds. Patient exclusion criteria included a history of seizures or evidence of epileptiform activity on a screening EEG, and onset of an MS exacerbation within 60 days.
Trial 2 was a randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel group, 14-week study (one week post-screening, two weeks of single-blind, placebo run-in, nine weeks of double-blind treatment, and two weeks of no-treatment follow-up) in 239 patients with multiple sclerosis at 39 centers in the U.S. and Canada: 120 patients assigned to 10 mg twice daily and 119 assigned to placebo. A total of 227 patients (113 AMPYRA and 114 placebo) completed all study visits. The patient inclusion and exclusion criteria used in Trial 1 were employed in Trial 2, and in addition patients with severe renal impairment were also excluded.
The primary measure of efficacy in both trials was walking speed (in feet per second) as measured by the Timed 25-foot Walk (T25FW), using a responder analysis. A responder was defined as a patient who showed faster walking speed for at least three visits out of a possible four during the double-blind period than the maximum value achieved in the five non-double-blind no treatment visits (four before the double-blind period and one after).
A significantly greater proportion of patients taking AMPYRA 10 mg twice daily were responders, compared to patients taking placebo, as measured by the T25FW (Trial 1: 34.8% vs. 8.3%; Trial 2: 42.9% vs. 9.3%). The increased response rate in the AMPYRA group was observed across all four major types of MS disease course.
During the double-blind treatment period, a significantly greater proportion of patients taking AMPYRA 10 mg twice daily had increases in walking speed of at least 10%, 20%, or 30% from baseline, compared to placebo (Figure 1 and Figure 2).
In Trial 1 and Trial 2, consistent improvements in walking speed were shown to be associated with improvements on a patient self-assessment of ambulatory disability, the 12-item Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale (MSWS-12), for both drug and placebo treated patients. However, a drug-placebo difference was not established for that outcome measure.
The majority of patients in these trials (63%) were using immunomodulatory drugs (interferons, glatiramer acetate, or natalizumab), but the magnitude of improvement in walking ability was independent of concomitant treatment with these drugs. No differences in effectiveness based on degree of impairment, age, gender, or body mass index were detected. There were too few non-Caucasians in the patient population to evaluate the effect of race.
8HOW SUPPLIED/STORAGE AND HANDLING
AMPYRA (dalfampridine) extended release tablets, 10 mg are film-coated, white to off-white, biconvex, oval shaped, non-scored tablets with flat edge. The tablets are identified by a debossed code "A10" on one side and are available in bottles of 60.
- NDC 10144-427-60 bottles of 60 tablets
9PATIENT COUNSELING INFORMATION
Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (Medication Guide).
Risk of Seizures
Inform patients that AMPYRA can cause seizures, and that they must discontinue use of AMPYRA if they experience a seizure [
AMPYRA dosing
Instruct patients to take AMPYRA exactly as prescribed. Instruct patients not to take a double dose after they miss a dose, as this would increase their risk of seizure. Instruct patients not to take more than 2 tablets in a 24-hour period and to make sure that there is an approximate 12-hour interval between doses [
Anaphylaxis
Advise patients to discontinue AMPYRA and seek medical care if they develop signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis [
Effects on Driving or Using Machinery
Counsel patients that central nervous system-related adverse reactions, such as vertigo and dizziness, associated with the use of AMPYRA might impair their ability to drive or use machinery should they develop these symptoms.
Drug Interactions
Instruct patients to notify their healthcare provider prior to starting any new medication, including over-the-counter drugs.
Storage
Advise patients to store AMPYRA at 25°C (77°F), with excursions permitted to 15ºC to 30ºC (59ºF to 86ºF). Advise patients to safely throw away AMPYRA that is out of date or no longer needed.