Fycompa (perampanel) is a brand-name drug prescribed for certain seizures in adults and some children with epilepsy. Fycompa comes as an oral tablet or liquid suspension that’s typically taken once per day.

Fycompa is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat the following seizures in some people with epilepsy:

Fycompa is an antiseizure drug and belongs to a drug class called AMPA receptor antagonists. Fycompa isn’t available in a generic version.

Keep reading for specific information about the dosage of Fycompa, including its strengths and how to take the medication. For a comprehensive look at Fycompa, see this article.

Note: This article describes typical dosages for Fycompa provided by the drug’s manufacturer. When taking Fycompa, always follow the dosage prescribed by your doctor.

Below is information about Fycompa’s forms, strengths, and dosages.

Fycompa forms

Fycompa comes as an oral tablet and an oral liquid suspension.

Fycompa strengths

Fycompa tablets come in six strengths:

  • 2 milligrams (mg)
  • 4 mg
  • 6 mg
  • 8 mg
  • 10 mg
  • 12 mg

Fycompa liquid suspension comes in one strength of 0.5 mg per milliliter (mg/mL).

Typical dosages

Typically, your doctor will start by prescribing you a low dosage. Then, they’ll adjust it over time to reach the amount that’s right for you. Your doctor will ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect.

The following information describes dosages that are commonly prescribed or recommended in adults. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. They’ll determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Dosage for seizures

Doctors may prescribe Fycompa to treat focal onset and generalized tonic-clonic seizures in adults with epilepsy. Fycompa may be prescribed with other drugs.

If your doctor prescribes Fycompa for your seizures, your starting dose will likely be 2 mg. Typically, you’ll take this once per day at bedtime.

After 7 days, your doctor may recommend increasing your dosage to 4 mg per day. They may continue to increase your dosage each week. The typically recommended dosage of Fycompa for people with seizures is 8 mg once per day.

If this dose isn’t working to manage your seizures, your doctor may recommend another dose increase. The maximum recommended dosage of Fycompa is 12 mg once per day.

For more information about your specific dosage, talk with your doctor.

Children’s dosage

Fycompa is approved to treat focal onset seizures in children with epilepsy ages 4 years and older. It’s also approved to treat generalized tonic-clonic seizures in children with epilepsy ages 12 years and older.

If your child’s doctor prescribes Fycompa, their starting dose will likely be 2 mg. Typically, they’ll take this once per day at bedtime.

After 7 days, your child’s doctor may recommend increasing their dosage to 4 mg per day. If needed, your child’s doctor may increase their dosage up to 8 mg per day. This is the typically recommended dosage of Fycompa for seizures.

If this dose isn’t managing your child’s seizures, the doctor may recommend another dose increase, up to 12 mg once per day. This is the maximum dosage of Fycompa that’s recommended.

Talk with your child’s doctor if you have questions about their dosage.

Long-term treatment

Fycompa is meant to be a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Fycompa is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely take it long term.

Before you start taking Fycompa, your doctor will discuss your treatment plan with you.

The Fycompa dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:

  • how your body responds to Fycompa
  • the severity of the seizures you’re taking Fycompa to treat
  • other medications you take
  • side effects you may have with Fycompa
  • your liver and kidney function

Other medical conditions you have can also affect your Fycompa dosage.

Dosage adjustments

Your doctor may need to adjust your dosage if you take certain medications, including some CYP3A4* inducers. These drugs can affect the level of Fycompa in your body. To find out what drugs may interact with Fycompa, see the “Interactions” section of this article.

Your doctor may also need to adjust your dosage if you’re 65 years or older or have liver damage or kidney disease.

In addition, your doctor may lower your dose if you experience certain changes in your thoughts or behaviors. Fycompa has a boxed warning† about the risk of serious psychiatric and behavioral reactions. Be sure to tell your doctor if you experience any of the following while taking Fycompa:

  • thoughts of harming others
  • anxiety, anger, or aggression
  • suspicion or distrust of others
  • hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there)
  • memory problems
  • confusion

Be sure to tell your doctor about all medications you take and any health conditions you may have.

* CYP3A4 is an enzyme (a type of protein) in the liver that breaks down medications.
† A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. To learn more, see the “Boxed warning” at the beginning of this article.

Fycompa comes as a tablet and liquid suspension. If you take the tablets, swallow them whole. Do not divide, crush, chew, or place the tablet in water.

If you take the liquid suspension, shake the bottle well before each use. You’ll measure your dose of Fycompa using the dosing syringes provided with your medication. Do not use a household spoon to measure your dose.

You may take Fycompa with or without food.

Fycompa is typically taken once per day at bedtime. Taking the drug at the same time each day helps maintain a steady level of the drug in your body. This helps Fycompa work effectively.

If you have trouble swallowing tablets, see this article for tips on how to take this form of medication. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

If you have questions about how to take Fycompa, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

ACCESSIBLE DRUG LABELS AND CONTAINERS

Some pharmacies offer labels with large print, braille, or a code you scan with a smartphone to convert text to speech. If your local pharmacy doesn’t have these options, your doctor or pharmacist might be able to recommend a pharmacy that does.

If you’re having trouble opening medication bottles, ask your pharmacist about putting Fycompa in an easy-open container. They also may recommend tools that can make it easier to open bottles.

If you miss a dose of Fycompa, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at its regular time the next day. You should not take an extra dose to make up for the missed dose. If you miss more than one day of medication, contact your doctor or pharmacist for instructions.

To help make sure that you don’t miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or putting a note where you’ll see it, such as on your bathroom mirror or bedside table. You could also download a reminder app on your phone.

It’s important that you don’t take more Fycompa than your doctor prescribes. For some medications, taking more than the recommended amount may lead to harmful effects or overdose.

Effects of an overdose

Overdose effects of Fycompa can include:

  • extreme tiredness
  • serious changes in behavior, feelings, or thoughts*
  • dizziness
  • problems walking
  • confusion
  • stupor (feeling very confused and almost unconscious)
  • coma

* Fycompa has a boxed warning about the risk of serious psychiatric and behavioral reactions. For details, see the “Boxed warning” at the beginning of this article.

If you take more than the recommended amount of Fycompa

Call your doctor right away if you believe you’ve taken too much Fycompa. Another option is to call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. If you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.

It’s possible for treatment with Fycompa to cause dependence. With dependence, your body becomes used to a drug and needs it to function as usual.

This means you may have withdrawal symptoms if you suddenly stop taking Fycompa after taking it regularly for some time. (Withdrawal symptoms are side effects that happen after you stop taking a drug your body has become dependent on.)

Symptoms of withdrawal after abruptly stopping Fycompa include:

  • anxiety or nervousness
  • irritability
  • feeling weak, tired, or lethargic
  • mood shifts
  • sleep problems

These symptoms can be very uncomfortable but are usually not life threatening.

You and your doctor will periodically reevaluate your need for Fycompa. If a decision is made to stop your Fycompa treatment, your doctor may slowly lower your dose over time. This helps reduce the risk of seizure activity.

Do not stop taking Fycompa unless your doctor specifically tells you to do so. If you have questions about your treatment, talk with your doctor.

Below are some frequently asked questions about Fycompa.

What is the recommended maximum dosage of Fycompa?

The maximum dosage of Fycompa that’s recommended is 12 mg once per day. Typically, doctors prescribe a low dosage to start and then increase it over time. For details about this, see the “Fycompa dosage” section above.

If you have questions or concerns about your dosage of Fycompa, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. If it seems like your Fycompa dosage isn’t managing your seizures, ask your doctor whether a dosage increase is right for you. Do not increase your dosage unless your doctor recommends doing so.

How long does it take for Fycompa to start working?

Fycompa starts to work after your first dose. However, your doctor can increase your dose (usually at weekly intervals) if needed to control seizures. Because of this, it may take a few weeks or more to see the full effect of the drug.

It may help to keep track of your symptoms. Then, you can let your doctor know how Fycompa is working for you.

Your doctor will check with you during treatment to see whether the drug is working for your condition. (Fycompa is prescribed to treat focal onset and generalized tonic-clonic seizures in adults and some children with epilepsy.)

Talk with your doctor if you have questions about what to expect with Fycompa treatment.

The dosages in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug’s manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Fycompa for you, they will prescribe the dosage that’s right for you. Always follow the dosage that your doctor prescribes.

As with any drug, never change your dosage of Fycompa without your doctor’s recommendation. If you have questions about the dosage of Fycompa that’s best for you, talk with your doctor.

Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Fycompa. These additional articles might be helpful:

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.