Understanding Walking Impairment
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Prevalence and Impact of Walking Impairment

Walking Impairment Affects Many People with MS.1,2

Walking impairment is one of the most physically disruptive aspects of MS.1

  • Approximately 400,000 Americans have MS - and every week another 200 people are diagnosed.3
  • MS is a chronic, unpredictable disease that affects about 2.5 million people worldwide.3
  • 87% of persons with MS said they experienced some limitation to their walking ability and limited activities that involved walking, in a poll of more than 2000 people conducted by the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America.4*
    • Poll commissioned by Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. and the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America. February 21, 2008.

multiple sclerosis walking ability limitation data

 

* 97.9% of the sample (2471 people) were aged over 25 years. Patient breakout: 65% with RRMS; 15% with SPMS; 8% with PPMS; 5% with PRMS; 7% were listed as "unknown/don't know/no response/benign."
Key abbreviations: RRMS, relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis; SPMS, secondary-progressive multiple sclerosis; PPMS, primary-progressive multiple sclerosis; PRMS, progressive-relapsing multiple sclerosis.

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Indication

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

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

The use of AMPYRA is contraindicated in the following conditions: History of seizure, or moderate or severe renal impairment.

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

Patients should discontinue use of any product containing 4-aminopyridine prior to initiating treatment with AMPYRA in order to reduce the potential for dose-related adverse reactions, including seizures.

Seizures: AMPYRA can cause seizures. The risk of seizures increases with increasing AMPYRA doses. AMPYRA is contraindicated in patients with a prior history of seizure. Discontinue AMPYRA use if seizure occurs.

Renally impaired patients: AMPYRA is contraindicated in patients with moderate or severe renal impairment (CrCl ≤ 50 mL/min); the risk of seizures in patients with mild renal impairment (CrCl 51-80 mL/min) is unknown, but AMPYRA plasma levels in these patients may approach those seen at a dose of 15 mg twice daily, a dose that may be associated with an increased risk of seizures; estimated CrCl should be known before initiating treatment with AMPYRA.

Urinary tract infections were reported more frequently as adverse reactions in patients receiving AMPYRA 10 mg twice daily compared to placebo.

The most common adverse events (incidence ≥ 2% and at a rate greater than the placebo rate) for AMPYRA in MS patients were urinary tract infection, insomnia, dizziness, headache, nausea, asthenia, back pain, balance disorder, multiple sclerosis relapse, paresthesia, nasopharyngitis, constipation, dyspepsia, and pharyngolaryngeal pain.

The risk of adverse events, including seizures, increases with increasing AMPYRA doses. No additional benefit was demonstrated at doses greater than 10 mg twice daily.

There are no adequate and well-controlled studies of AMPYRA in pregnant women. AMPYRA should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

Safety and effectiveness of AMPYRA in patients younger than 18 years of age have not been established.

Clinical studies of AMPYRA did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger subjects.

For more information, please see the complete Prescribing Information, including the 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.
You may also contact Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. at 1-800-367-5109.

AMPYRA® is a registered trademark of Acorda Therapeutics®, Inc.
AMPYRA® is marketed by Acorda Therapeutics®, Inc and manufactured under license from Alkermes Pharma Ireland Ltd.
© 2011 Acorda Therapeutics®, Inc. All rights reserved.

  is a registered trademark of Acorda Therapeutics®, Inc.

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