Ampyra is the first and, thus far, only drug that is intended to help MS patients walk. Marketing claims from Acroda Theraputics say that the drug is “very effective”. The effectiveness of Ampyra has been questioned both before and after its release into the general U.S. market.
How Ampyra is used
The brand name for Fampridine sustained release pills is Ampyra. The drug works by blocking some potassium receptors, which restores impulses between nerves. MS patients were not the original target of Ampyra – it was first studied for use with spinal cord injuries. The annual cost of Ampyra is about $ 10,000 to $ 15,000 a year. That is a cost that goes above and beyond the no faxing payday loans many patients could qualify for – so what are the risks and rewards of the drug?
What Ampyra is used for
Ampyra is a drug that has shown to help improve walking speed in MS patients. Ampyra works for only about thirty-five percent of patients who take it. The original studies used by Acorda Theraputics to get the drug approved relied on twice-a-day doses. Ampyra in the United States is sold as a single-dose, sustained-release drug. Ampyra is supposed to be used as an extra treatment on top of other MS drugs.
The numbers behind Ampyra
The percentages behind Ampyra’s effectiveness are statistically significant- but only by the slimmest of margins. The speed of walking for patients who took Ampyra did improve in the double-blind study. By measuring how fast patients walked 25 feet, researchers found Ampyra improved those speeds by between half and three quarters of a second. While this is a statistically significant improvement, it is only barely so. If an MS patient is declining in ability to walk, though, then this less-than-a-second improvement could mean the world.
The side effects of Ampyra
There are significant side effect warnings with Ampyra. Patients reported infection, insomnia, and dizziness quite often. Patients who took Ampyra experienced relapses in symptoms twice as often as patients taking a placebo. Fampridine was originally developed as a bird poison, and it has also been shown to cause severe seizures if one takes twice the recommended dose.
What Ampyra’s sales look like
Acordia reported $ 3.4 million in sales for Ampyra. The first packages of the drug were sent to pharmacies on March 1. About 2,000 prescriptions for Ampyra were written between March 1 and April 29. Many patients are now wondering if the health care costs of Ampyra are, on balance, worth the 35 percent chance they might walk a tiny bit faster.
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