Epilepsy patients who have trouble swallowing pills or who prefer liquid medications have an alternative, Elsai Inc. announced last week, due to the availability of FYCOMPA (perampanel) as an oral medication.
"Swallowing tablets can be a real concern for some patients with epilepsy," Chief Clinical Officer and Chief Medical Officer, Neurology Business Group, Dr. Lynn Kramer said. "We are proud to offer this new option, which reinforces Eisai's ongoing commitment to advancing epilepsy care and addressing the unmet medical needs of patients and their families."
The FYCOMPA oral suspension is interchangeable with the tablet form of the medication. It was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on April 29. The oral suspension is prescribed with an adapter and syringes so the patient or caregiver can measure the correct dose.
FYCOMPA is available in 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 mg tablets and as an oral medication. It is used in conjunction with other anticonvulsant medications to treat partial-onset and primary generalized tonic-clonic (PGTC) seizures in patients over age 12. It is approved in 47 countries.
Epilepsy affects approximately 2.9 million people in the U.S. Partial-onset seizures are the most common type of seizure, followed by generalized seizures, which include PGTC seizures.
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