Perampanel: Frequently Asked Questions Answered

Perampanel, an anticonvulsant, has the potential to depress the central nervous system or CNS, leading to higher chances of drowsiness, sedation and depression. It can also lead to fatigue-related events like extreme lethargy. Hence, Perampanel is taken before going to sleep at night. Furthermore, Perampanel impairs one’s ability to drive and operate heavy machinery.

Perampanel has a long half-life. It stays in your body for approximately six days; therefore, once-a-day dosage of this drug is sufficient. The levels of Perampanel in the blood decrease gradually after abrupt cessation. You should never take this drug on your own because it can worsen your condition. Consult a doctor.

Perampanel is a Schedule III controlled substance. This drug can easily be abused as it can lead to euphoria at higher dosages. It can also lead to sedation and dissociative phenomena, such as being spaced out and detachment created by abusing recreational drugs. So one must exercise caution while taking this drug.

Like Perampanel, alcohol is a CNS depressant. Hence, having alcohol with this medication can increase the risk of fatigue, somnolence and movement and gait problems. This can affect your capacity to carry out simple activities, thereby increasing the chance of falling down or other accidents. Hence, always take precautions - do not mix the two.

There’s insufficient data on the effect of Perampanel on pregnancy. There’s hardly any study in this regard. Animal studies have not shown any adverse effects of Perampanel on animals at lower doses. Embryotoxicity, however, was observed in rats at higher drug doses. Your doctor will not recommend Perampanel during pregnancy.

Yes, Perampanel helps treat partial (focal) seizures that are extremely common in people with epilepsy by blocking the AMPA receptors for glutamate in the brain. Glutamate is a neurotransmitter that stimulates nerve cells, which can lead to seizures. It also works as an anticonvulsant and is used along with other anti-seizure medicines.

Your doctor will not prescribe Perampanel for children aged under four years because the drug’s efficacy and safety trials are yet to be completed for this age group. Your doctor will prescribe this medication for managing epilepsy in kids belonging to other age groups, but at much lower dosages and under the care of a specialist.

Perampanel can be dangerous as it causes considerable side effects. Apart from neurological issues like dizziness, gait and movement disorders and drowsiness, Perampanel can cause changes in your behaviour. The medication can even trigger suicidal thoughts and cause debilitating falls. It can lead to skin rashes and other side effects such as swollen glands.

Perampanel abuse can lead to high psychological dependence and withdrawal symptoms, including anxiety, fatigue, lethargy, mood swings and insomnia. It can lead to euphoria and dissociation, especially if taken at higher doses. Therefore, the US Drug Enforcement Administration has included this drug in Schedule III. Please consult a doctor for more information.

Yes, weight gain is associated with Fycompa, the brand name for Perampanel. In drug trials, it was seen that weight gain was more common among patients who have taken higher doses of Perampanel, i.e 8 mg and 12 mg per day.