Frequently asked questions about Dravet syndrome and FINTEPLA

Emma, living with Dravet syndrome
Taking FINTEPLA since 2022

To help you learn more about FINTEPLA, see below for answers to commonly asked questions. When you’re ready, talk to your healthcare provider to decide if FINTEPLA is right for you or your loved one.

About FINTEPLA

What is FINTEPLA?

FINTEPLA is a prescription medicine used to treat the seizures associated with Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) in patients 2 years of age and older.

It is not known if FINTEPLA is safe and effective in children less than 2 years of age.

How is FINTEPLA taken?

FINTEPLA is a cherry-flavored liquid that is taken by mouth (administered orally) and can be taken with or without food. Read the Instructions for Use at the end of the FINTEPLA Medication Guide for information on the right way to take FINTEPLA.

How can my loved one get on FINTEPLA?

FINTEPLA is available only through the FINTEPLA Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS). Some adults who took FINTEPLA developed problems with their heart valves that caused valvular heart disease or high blood pressure in the arteries of their lungs. FINTEPLA REMS is designed to help manage these potential safety concerns.

Before your loved one receives FINTEPLA, your healthcare provider will check their heart valves and lung artery pressure with a test called an echocardiogram (echo), which is an ultrasound picture of the heart. After enrolling in the FINTEPLA REMS and reviewing your loved one’s echo results, you and your healthcare provider will decide whether to begin FINTEPLA.

Is financial assistance available for FINTEPLA?

Yes, UCB offers the ONWARD® Copay Assistance Program for eligible commercially insured patients once they have been prescribed FINTEPLA.

For more information about financial assistance programs, please call ONWARD at 1-888-964-3649.

Taking FINTEPLA

Can my loved one with Dravet syndrome take FINTEPLA with antiseizure medications?

During clinical studies, patients were on their current treatment plans, including other antiseizure medicines or treatments, such as use of a vagal nerve stimulator or ketogenic diet, while taking FINTEPLA. If you have additional questions about taking other medicines with FINTEPLA, speak with your healthcare provider.

Can my loved one with Dravet syndrome take FINTEPLA with cannabidiol (CBD)?

Yes. FINTEPLA can be taken with commercially available CBD. If you have additional questions, speak with your healthcare provider.

Can my loved one with Dravet syndrome take FINTEPLA on a ketogenic diet?

Yes. There are no restrictions for use of FINTEPLA while on a ketogenic diet. In fact, patients on a ketogenic diet were included in the FINTEPLA clinical trials. Remember to discuss with your healthcare provider all treatments you may be taking, including the ketogenic diet.

Can my loved one with Dravet syndrome take FINTEPLA with feeding tubes?

Yes. FINTEPLA is compatible with feeding tubes. If you have additional questions, speak with your healthcare provider.

What are the most common side effects of FINTEPLA for Dravet syndrome?

For patients with Dravet syndrome treated with FINTEPLA, the most common side effects include decreased appetite; diarrhea; low energy; respiratory infection; decreased weight; fever; constipation; abnormal echocardiogram; sleepiness; problems with movement, balance, and walking; increased drooling; increased blood pressure; vomiting; falls; seizures that do not stop; weakness.

Some patients in the clinical studies experienced a decrease in appetite and weight. However, most patients with Dravet syndrome and approximately half of patients with LGS resumed expected weight gains during the open-label extension study. If you have additional questions, speak with your healthcare provider.

Important Safety Information

FINTEPLA can cause serious side effects, including:

  1. 1.Problems with the valves in the heart (valvular heart disease) and high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs (pulmonary arterial hypertension) have been associated with FINTEPLA. Your healthcare provider will do a test called an echocardiogram to check your heart and to evaluate for high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs before you start taking FINTEPLA, again every 6 months during treatment, and one time 3 to 6 months after you take your last dose of FINTEPLA.

    Call your healthcare provider right away if you develop any of these signs and symptoms of heart or lung problems during treatment with FINTEPLA:

    • shortness of breath
    • tiredness or weakness, especially with increased activity
    • lightheadedness or fainting
    • swollen ankles or feet
    • chest pain
    • sensations of a rapid, fluttering heartbeat (palpitations)
    • irregular pulse
    • bluish color of your lips and skin (cyanosis)

    Because of the risk of heart valve problems (valvular heart disease) and high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs (pulmonary arterial hypertension), FINTEPLA is only available through a restricted program called the FINTEPLA Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS). Before you or your child receives FINTEPLA, your healthcare provider or pharmacist will make sure you understand how to take FINTEPLA safely. If you have any questions about FINTEPLA, ask your healthcare provider, visit www.FinteplaREMS.com, or call 1-877-964-3649.

  2. 2. Decreased appetite and decreased weight. Decreased appetite and decreased weight are serious and common side effects of FINTEPLA.

    • Your weight should be checked regularly during your treatment with FINTEPLA.
    • Your healthcare provider may need to make changes to your FINTEPLA dose if your weight decreases. In some cases, FINTEPLA may need to be stopped.

  3. 3. Sleepiness, sedation, and lack of energy (lethargy). These are serious and common side effects of FINTEPLA. Taking FINTEPLA with central nervous system (CNS) depressants, including alcohol, may increase sleepiness. Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how FINTEPLA affects you.

  4. 4. Like all other antiepileptic drugs, FINTEPLA may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people (about 1 in 500). Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you: thoughts about suicide or dying; trouble sleeping (insomnia); attempts to commit suicide; new or worse irritability; new or worse depression; acting aggressive, being angry or violent; new or worse anxiety; acting on dangerous impulses; feeling agitated or restless; an extreme increase in activity and talking (mania); panic attacks; other unusual changes in behavior or mood.

    How can I watch for early symptoms of suicidal thoughts and actions?

    Pay attention to any changes, especially sudden changes, in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings. Keep all follow-up visits with your healthcare provider as scheduled.

    Suicidal thoughts or actions can be caused by things other than medicines. If you have suicidal thoughts or actions, your healthcare provider may check for other causes.

  5. 5. Do not stop taking FINTEPLA without first talking to your healthcare provider. Stopping a seizure medicine such as FINTEPLA can suddenly cause you to have seizures more often or seizures that do not stop (status epilepticus).

    Do not take FINTEPLA if you:

    • are allergic to fenfluramine or any of the ingredients in FINTEPLA. See the Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in FINTEPLA.
    • are taking or have stopped taking medicines called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) in the last 14 days. This may cause a serious or life-threatening problem called serotonin syndrome. If you are not sure whether or not you are taking one of these medicines, contact your healthcare provider.

    Before taking FINTEPLA, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including heart problems; weight loss; depression, mood problems, or suicidal thoughts or behavior; kidney problems; liver problems; are pregnant or plan to become pregnant; are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

    Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

    What are the possible side effects of FINTEPLA?

    FINTEPLA may cause serious side effects, including:

    • See “FINTEPLA can cause serious side effects” above

    • Serotonin syndrome. Serotonin syndrome is a life-threatening problem that can happen in people taking FINTEPLA, especially if FINTEPLA is taken with certain other medicines, including anti-depressant medicines called SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, and MAOIs; tryptophan; lithium; antipsychotics; St. John’s Wort; dextromethorphan; tramadol.

      Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of serotonin syndrome: mental status changes such as seeing things that are not there (hallucinations), agitation, or coma; changes in blood pressure; tight muscles; fast heartbeat; nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea; high body temperature; trouble walking.

    • High blood pressure (hypertension). Hypertension is a serious and common side effect. FINTEPLA can cause your blood pressure to increase even if you have never had high blood pressure before.

    • Increased pressure in your eyes (glaucoma). Symptoms of glaucoma may include red eyes, seeing halos or bright colors around lights, nausea or vomiting, decreased vision, eye pain or discomfort, blurred vision.

      If you have any of these symptoms, call your healthcare provider right away.

The most common side effects of FINTEPLA when used to treat patients with Dravet syndrome (DS) include decreased appetite; diarrhea; low energy; respiratory infection; decreased weight; fever; constipation; abnormal echocardiogram; sleepiness; problems with movement, balance, and walking; increased drooling; increased blood pressure; vomiting; falls; seizures that do not stop; weakness.

The most common side effects of FINTEPLA when used to treat patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) include diarrhea; tiredness; vomiting; sleepiness; decreased appetite.

These are not all the possible side effects of FINTEPLA. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Indication

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  • FINTEPLA is a prescription medicine used to treat seizures associated with Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome in patients 2 years of age and older.
  • It is not known if FINTEPLA is safe and effective in children less than 2 years of age.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. Keep FINTEPLA and all medicines out of the reach of children.

Please see full Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide, for additional Important Safety Information on FINTEPLA.