Common Questions

If your MS has affected your walking, your healthcare team can determine if AMPYRA may be right for you. You can also assess your walking using a simple set of questions and then share these results with your doctor.

Take a walking self-assessment now

The most common adverse events for AMPYRA in MS patients were urinary tract infection, trouble sleeping, dizziness, headache, nausea, weakness, back pain, and problems with balance.

AMPYRA is the only medication shown to improve walking in people with multiple
sclerosis (MS).

In clinical studies in people with MS, significantly more people taking AMPYRA had an improvement in their walking compared to those taking a sugar pill. Improving your walking may help with even the simplest things, like keeping up with friends and family.

Individual results may vary. Not everyone responds to AMPYRA.

AMPYRA can be taken by people with any of the major types of MS. You can take AMPYRA alone or with other MS medications, including your disease-modifying therapy.

AMPYRA is not a disease-modifying treatment for MS. It is not an infusion or injection. It’s a tablet, taken twice a day about 12 hours apart.

Do not take AMPYRA if you have ever had a seizure or have certain types of kidney problems, or are allergic to dalfampridine (4-aminopyridine), the active ingredient in AMPYRA.

In MS, the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the protective coating around nerve fibers, called myelin. As MS progresses, there may be more areas of demyelination. When myelin is lost or damaged, potassium channels on the nerves open, and potassium leaks out. This can weaken or distort the messages being sent from the brain to the rest of the body. In some people, this disrupts signals that control walking ability and can lead to walking difficulties or problems.

AMPYRA enhances signal conduction in the nerves when myelin has been lost or damaged.

How AMPYRA works is not completely understood. However, in animal studies, AMPYRA has been shown to enhance message conduction in damaged nerve fibers by blocking potassium leaks.

We are on the line and online to provide answers when you need them. If you have questions about AMPYRA or need cost and insurance assistance, call AMPYRA Patient Support Services (APSS) toll-free at 1-888-881-1918 Monday through Friday, from 8 am to 8 pm ET.

The AMPYRACONNECT™ Support Program provides support for people with MS who take AMPYRA and for their care partners. This free program is designed to inform, educate and motivate you as you begin your treatment with AMPYRA. Register today and receive AMPYRA information, upcoming events, tips and tools, and exclusive web-based material. To sign up, please click here and enter your access code provided in your AMPYRA Welcome Kit letter.

If you were not provided with a code please call AMPYRA Patient Support Services (APSS) toll-free at 1-888-881-1918 Monday through Friday, from 8 am to 8 pm ET.

AMPYRA is a tablet, taken twice a day about every 12 hours, with or without food. It's important to remember not to divide, crush, chew or dissolve AMPYRA tablets. Be sure to follow your doctor's instructions on how to take AMPYRA.

Some people experience improvement in their walking ability within a couple of weeks. Others notice improvement up to 6 weeks after starting. AMPYRA does not work for everyone. Individual results may vary. It is important to follow your doctor's instructions on taking AMPYRA.

In clinical trials, AMPYRA 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 (a sugar pill) in two clinical trials (34.8% versus 8.3% and 42.9% versus 9.3%).

AMPYRA has been shown to benefit people with relatively mild walking issues to those with more severe issues. And, AMPYRA may be taken by people with any of the major types of MS.

AMPYRA does not work for everyone and individual results may vary.

If you live in the US and cannot afford AMPYRA, you may qualify for help through the AMPYRA Patient Assistance Program. This program may be able to reimburse you for part or all of your medication. To find out if you qualify, call 1-888-881-1918.

Always check with your doctor before taking any new medication.

AMPYRA has not been shown to interact with other medications you may be taking, including other MS medications. However, other aminopyridine medications, including compounded 4-aminopyridine (sometimes called 4-AP, fampridine), should be stopped before taking AMPYRA, as the active ingredient is the same.

Take AMPYRA exactly as your doctor tells you to take it. Do not take AMPYRA if you have ever had a seizure or have certain types of kidney problems, or are allergic to dalfampridine (4-aminopyridine), the active ingredient in AMPYRA. AMPYRA should not be taken with other forms of 4-aminopyridine (4-AP, fampridine), since the active ingredient is the same. Take AMPYRA tablets whole. Do not break, crush, chew or dissolve AMPYRA tablets before swallowing. If you miss a dose of AMPYRA, do not make up the missed dose. Do not take 2 doses at the same time. Before taking AMPYRA tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. AMPYRA may cause serious allergic reactions. Stop taking AMPYRA and call your doctor right away or get emergency medical help if you have shortness of breath or trouble breathing, swelling of your throat or tongue, or hives.

No. AMPYRA should not be taken with other forms of 4-aminopyridine (4-AP, fampridine), since the active ingredient is the same.

You should never share your medicine with others or keep expired or unused medications in your home. If you have any AMPYRA that has expired or that you will not be using, you may want to consider taking advantage of community medication take-back programs. These programs allow the public to bring unused medications to a central location for proper disposal. Information about take-back programs can generally be found in your city's or county's government's household trash and recycling service (see blue pages in phone book). When in doubt about proper disposal, talk to your pharmacist. You can also find more information on the FDA website about proper disposal of medications at the following address: http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm101653.htm