AMPYRA may help them improve their walking.

AMPYRA^® is a medication indicated as a treatment to improve walking in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). This was demonstrated by an increase in walking speed.

In clinical trials, AMPYRA consistently improved the walking of over a third of patients, as demonstrated by an increase in walking speed. AMPYRA improved walking speed in significantly more patients than placebo (sugar pill) in 2 clinical trials (34.8% vs. 8.3% and 42.9% vs. 9.3%).

Patients who walked faster in the clinical trials also saw consistent improvements in how MS affected their walking related activities. Walking faster can be meaningful in these types of activities because it may allow a person to cross a street before the light changes, get to answer the door before someone assumes no one is home and leaves, or answer the phone before it goes into voicemail.

How soon will they notice a change in how they walk?

They may experience a period of adjustment when starting AMPYRA. In clinical trials, people who  had consistent improvements in their walking while taking AMPYRA experienced them up to 6 weeks of starting treatment.⁷ Individual results may vary, so it's important for them to keep taking AMPYRA as prescribed by their doctor.

Can AMPYRA cause side effects?

AMPYRA can cause seizures. Persons with a history of seizures or certain types of kidney problems must not take AMPYRA. AMPYRA may cause other serious side effects including kidney or bladder infections. In clinical trials, people taking AMPYRA reported having more urinary tract infections than those taking a placebo (sugar pill).

The most common side effects of AMPYRA include urinary tract infection, trouble sleeping (insomnia), dizziness, headache, nausea, weakness, back pain, problems with balance, multiple sclerosis relapse, burning, tingling or itching of the skin, irritation in the nose and throat, constipation, indigestion, and pain in the throat. Make sure the person you care for tells his or her doctor if they have any side effect that bothers them or that does not go away.

People should never take more than one tablet of AMPYRA twice a day about 12 hours apart. Taking more than 2 tablets in a 24-hour period is dangerous because it may increase the risk of seizures. A person won't experience any additional benefits from AMPYRA by taking doses higher than 10 mg twice daily. Taking a higher dose can increase their risk of side effects, including seizures. If they miss a dose of AMPYRA they should not make up the missed dose.