“I like to call it the walking pill because it’s made my walking so much better.” - Bambi

Get Ready to Talk the Walk

Talking about your walking is important

It isn’t always easy to talk to doctors about walking, but these are common concerns for many people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Even if talking about it makes you uncomfortable, it is important to speak with your healthcare team. There may be options available to help improve your walking.

Suggestions to help you talk about walking with your healthcare team:

  • DO make a point to discuss walking at every doctor visit
  • DO mention changes in your walking, even if they seem minor or don't happen all the time
  • DO tell your doctor how you walk each day while at work, caring for your family, exercising or running errands or if difficulties arise during any other daily routines

Things to keep in mind — tell your doctor if you:

  • Have started to avoid activities that require walking
  • Walk less outside your home
  • Lean on walls or furniture to help you get around your home
  • Become tired due to the effort needed to walk
  • Take longer to complete routine trips throughout your day (grocery shopping, getting the mail)

You can also print the above checklists to bring with you to your next appointment.

The Talking to Your Doctor Discussion Guide can help

Another easy way to prepare for appointments is to write down your questions and concerns ahead of time. This will help you establish a dialogue. It will also make sure you don't forget anything important.

Using our Talking to Your Doctor Discussion Guide — a free, printable checklist that you create — you can go to each appointment ready to talk about your walking.

Part of the Guide is a simple assessment of your walking. You can discuss the results with your healthcare team to help them come up with the best treatment plan for you.

AMPYRA Conversations

Watch a one-on-one interview with a leading MS specialist as he discusses when you should talk about walking with your doctor.

AMPYRA is indicated as a treatment to improve walking in patients with MS. AMPYRA improved walking in significantly more people with MS than placebo (sugar pill) in two clinical trials (34.8% vs. 8.3% and 42.9% vs. 9.3%). This was demonstrated by an increase in walking speed.

Not everyone responds to AMPYRA. Individual results may vary.

When should you talk to your doctor about walking?
Open to see text version
Kristie Salerno Kent:

When should people talk with their doctor about walking?

Dr. Thrower:

I think any symptom from multiple sclerosis that affects the person's quality of life or their ability to function the way they want to at home or in the workplace needs to be discussed as early as possible.

Many of the uh.. interventions that we have for multiple sclerosis may be more effective, for instance, if we start uh.. early, and we may be able to prevent complications of- of some symptoms by intervening uh.. sooner, rather than later.

Kristie Salerno Kent is a paid spokesperson for Acorda Therapeutics®, Inc. Kristie is living with MS and is currently taking AMPYRA. The people interviewed by Kristie for the AMPYRA Conversations video series are real people living with MS and real healthcare professionals who treat people with MS. All participants have been compensated for their time.
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AMPYRA® (dalfampridine) is indicated as a treatment to improve walking in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). This was demonstrated by an increase in walking speed.

IMPORTANT NEW SAFETY INFORMATION

Do not take AMPYRA if you are allergic to dalfampridine (4-aminopyridine), the active ingredient in AMPYRA.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

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.

Take AMPYRA exactly as prescribed by your doctor.

You could have a seizure even if you never had a seizure before. Your chance of having a seizure is higher if you take too much AMPYRA or if your kidneys have a mild decrease of function, which is common after age 50.

Your doctor may do a blood test to check how well your kidneys are working, if that is not known before you start taking AMPYRA.

AMPYRA should not be taken with other forms of 4-aminopyridine (4-AP, fampridine), since the active ingredient is the same.

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.

Please see the full Prescribing Information and Patient Medication Guide.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

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

IMPORTANT NEW SAFETY INFORMATION

Do not take AMPYRA if you are allergic to dalfampridine (4-aminopyridine), the active ingredient in AMPYRA.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

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.

Take AMPYRA exactly as prescribed by your doctor.

You could have a seizure even if you never had a seizure before. Your chance of having a seizure is higher if you take too much AMPYRA or if your kidneys have a mild decrease of function, which is common after age 50.

Your doctor may do a blood test to check how well your kidneys are working, if that is not known before you start taking AMPYRA.

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.

AMPYRA should not be taken with other forms of 4-aminopyridine (4-AP, fampridine), since the active ingredient is the same.

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.

Before taking AMPYRA tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if AMPYRA will harm your unborn baby.

Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed. It is not known if AMPYRA passes into your breast milk. You and your doctor should decide if you will take AMPYRA or breast-feed. You should not do both.

Please see the full Prescribing Information and Patient Medication Guide.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

AMPYRA® is a registered trademark of Acorda Therapeutics®, Inc. | AMPYRA® is marketed by Acorda Therapeutics®, Inc. and manufactured under license from Alkermes Pharma Ireland Limited (APIL), Ireland | AMPYRACONNECT™ is a trademark of Acorda Therapeutics®, Inc. | The stylized path logo is a trademark of Acorda Therapeutics®, Inc. | The stylized Acorda logo is a trademark of Acorda Therapeutics®, Inc. | © 2013 Acorda Therapeutics®, Inc. All rights reserved.

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