Description
Uses of medication: Firdapse (Amifampridine) is a potassium channel blocker used for the treatment of adult patients with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS).
Dosage: The recommended starting firdapse dose is 15 mg to 30 mg daily, taken orally in the divided doses (3 to 4 times daily). In case a dose of firdapse is forgotten or missed, patients should not take additional or double doses
Treatment Reactions: The most commonly reported firdapse side effects include:
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- Back pain
- Hypertension
- Muscle spasms
- Paresthesia
- Abdominal pain
- Elevated liver enzymes
- Upper respiratory tract infection
Warnings and Precautions
- The firdapse uses should be avoided in patients with the hypersensitivity to amifampridine phosphate or another aminopyridine.
- Use of amifampridine 10 mg is not recommended in patients with a history of seizures.
- Patients with kidney/liver problems should discuss their healthcare provider prior to initiating the firdapse therapy.
- Women with childbearing potential and taking firdapse 10 mg should avoid becoming pregnant while on the therapy
- .Nursing mothers with the therapy of amifampridine tablets shouldn’t breastfeed to their child.
- The safety, as well as efficacy profile of amifampridine in patients aged under 17 years, has not been established.
