Perampanel
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Perampanel is occasionally used in pregnancy if it is the most suitable treatment for epilepsy.
What is perampanel?
Perampanel (Fycompa®) is used in combination with other medicines to treat some forms of epilepsy.
Benefits
What are the benefits of using perampanel in pregnancy?
Use of parampanel can ensure that epilepsy is well-controlled during pregnancy. Uncontrolled seizures can be dangerous to the woman and her unborn baby.
Risks
What are the risks of using perampanel in pregnancy?
There is very little information about perampanel use in pregnancy. While the current information does not indicate it harms a developing baby, more women taking parampanel need to be studied to confirm this.
Perampanel used around the time of delivery can affect the baby after birth. The baby may be ‘jittery’, have feeding problems, and initially need some help with breathing. These problems usually settle within the first few days.
Pregnant women who take parampanel should contact their neurologist or epilepsy specialist nurse as soon as possible. They will review whether parampanel is still needed and ensure that the dose is correct. Pregnant women should not stop taking parampanel or change the dose without speaking to a healthcare professional.
All pregnant women in the UK who take an antiseizure medicine (including parampanel) are advised to take high dose (5mg per day) folic acid.
Alternatives
Are there any alternatives to using perampanel in pregnancy?
Possibly - some women can be switched to an alternative anti-seizure medicine. Women who are planning a pregnancy or become pregnant whilst using perampanel should be reviewed by a neurologist or an epilepsy specialist nurse. Perampanel should be continued until the review appointment unless a healthcare professional has advised otherwise.
No treatment
What if I prefer not to take perampanel during pregnancy?
To keep both the woman and her baby safe, it is important that the correct antiseizure medication is continued during pregnancy. Some women may be advised that they can use alternative antiseizure medicines during pregnancy, but for others, parampanel may be the best choice to control their epilepsy.
Will I or my baby need extra monitoring?
As part of routine antenatal care in the UK, women are invited for a very detailed scan at around 20 weeks of pregnancy to check the baby’s development. Further scans to check for birth defects are not usually required following use of perampanel in pregnancy.
Women with epilepsy are likely to be offered closer monitoring during pregnancy to ensure that their epilepsy is stable and that the medicines they are using are at the correct doses.
Are there any risks to my baby if the father has used perampanel?
There is no evidence that perampanel use by the father can harm the baby through effects on the sperm.
Who can I talk to if I have questions?
If you have any questions regarding the information in this leaflet, please discuss them with your health care provider. They can access more detailed medical and scientific information from www.uktis.org.