Perampanel

What is perampanel?

Perampanel can help to control and prevent certain kinds of seizures. You may hear perampanel called by its brand name, Fycompa. Perampanel comes in a tablet form.

Before giving your child perampanel

Tell your child’s health-care provider if your child has ever had an allergic reaction to perampanel or any other ingredients contained within the tablet.

Talk with your child’s health-care provider if your child has any of the following conditions. Precautions may need to be taken with this medicine if your child has:

• a history of mood disturbance or aggressive behaviour
• liver problems
• kidney problems

How should you give your child perampanel?

• Give perampanel exactly as your child’s health-care provider tells you, even if your child’s seizure appears under control.
• Give perampanel at night with or without food.
• The tablets should be swallowed whole, with water.
• Do not suddenly stop giving this medicine to your child. Talk with your child's health-care provider before you stop giving this medicine for any reason.

What should you do if your child misses a dose?

• Give the missed dose as soon as you remember.
• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose. Give the next dose at the regular time.
• Do not give your child two doses to make up for one missed dose.

How long does this medicine take to work?

It may take two to three weeks for perampanel to have its full effect.

What are the possible side effects of perampanel?

Your child may have some of these side effects while they take perampanel.

Check with your child's health-care provider if your child continues to have any of these side effects, if they do not go away, or if they bother your child:

• Dizziness or drowsiness
• Stomach upset, vomiting
• Constipation
• Skin rash
• Headache
• Mood changes or aggressive behaviour
• Arm or leg swelling
• Weight gain

Most of the following side effects are not common, but they may be a sign of a serious problem. Call your child's health-care provider right away or take your child to the nearest Emergency Department if they have any of these side effects:

• Hallucinations
• Severe skin rash
• Suicidal thoughts
• Double vision

What safety measures should you take when your child is using this medicine?

There are some medicines that should not be taken together with perampanel, or, in some cases, the dose of perampanel or the other medicine may need to be adjusted. It is important that you tell your child’s health-care provider if your child takes any other medications (prescription, over the counter or herbal), including:

• other seizure medications, including carbamazepine, phenytoin, valproic acid, divalproex sodium and phenobarbital
• antibiotics, including rifampin
• sleep medications, such as zopiclone or zolpidem
• allergy medications, including cetirizine (Reactine), could make your child extra sleepy when taken with perampanel
• hormonal contraceptives—perampanel can decrease their effectiveness
• opioid pain medications or opioid-like medications, such as morphine, oxycodone, nabilone and hydromorphone
• flunarizine can cause extra sleepiness when taken together with perampanel

Your child's balance and coordination may be affected by the side effects that perampanel can cause. It may also affect your child's safety in performing activities such as riding a bicycle and playing sports. They should be careful when taking part in these types of activities and wear protective equipment such as helmets. These effects tend to occur more when starting perampanel and when increasing the dose. They should lessen with time. If your child continues to have issues, speak with your child’s health-care provider.

What other important information should you know?

Keep a list of all medications your child is on and show the list to their health-care provider.

Do not share your child’s medicine with others and do not give anyone else’s medicine to your child.

Make sure you always have enough perampanel to last through weekends, holidays and vacations. Call your pharmacy at least two days before your child runs out of medicine to order refills.

Keep all appointments at the clinic or health-care provider’s office so that they can monitor your child's response to perampanel.

Keep perampanel at room temperature in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. Do NOT store it in the bathroom or kitchen.

Do not keep any medicines that are out of date. Check with your pharmacist about the best way to throw away outdated or leftover medicines.

Keep perampanel out of your child’s sight and reach and locked up in a safe place. If your child takes too much perampanel, call your local Poison Information Centre at one of these numbers. These calls are free. 

• Call 1-844 POISON-X, or 1-844-764-7669, from anywhere in Canada except Quebec.
• Call 1-800-463-5060 if you live in Quebec.