Prolonged-release fampridine improves walking in a proportion of patients with multiple sclerosis.
Fampridine is indicated to improve walking in adult multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Indications vary between countries and the prescribing neurologist should be aware of the labeling and indication in his own country. The prolonged-release formulation of 4-aminopyridine has reduced the risk of seizure to a level near the intrinsic MS risk, and the risk can be further minimized if it emphasized that patients should not exceed the recommended dose of 10 mg twice a day, should not catch up on missed doses and should not divide, crush or chew tablets. It is imperative to check the renal function before and during treatment and make sure the patient does not get concomitant medications affecting the renal elimination. The use of fampridine is considered safe, and the side effects are often mild and acceptable. Approximately one-third of MS patients treated with fampridine will experience an improvement of their walking speed above 20% on the timed 25-foot walk test (T25FW), which is considered to be clinically relevant.
Danish Multiple Sclerosis Center - Neurological Department, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9 Copenhagen 2100, Denmark.
Henrik K
HK
Mathiesen
Per S
PS
Sorensen
D015761:4-Aminopyridine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D015761:4-Aminopyridine