A few montha ago my ms Dr. had me start on a new drug - '4AP'. The full name is 4-Aminopyridine and it is a compounded drug. What is compounding? From the website of where I get my 4AP, National Pharmacy Specialties,
Compounding combines an ageless art with the latest medical knowledge and state-of-the-art technology, allowing specially trained professionals to prepare customized medications to meet each patient’s specific needs. Compounding is fundamental to the profession of pharmacy and was a standard means of providing prescription medications before drugs began to be produced in mass quantities by pharmaceutical manufacturers. The demand for professional compounding has increased as healthcare professionals and patients realize that the limited number of strengths and dosage forms that are commercially available do not meet the needs of many patients, and that these patients often have a better response to a customized dosage form that is "just what the doctor ordered".
4AP also comes in a FDA approved commercial form, Ampyra, though it's price tag reflects it's commercial status.
4AP is a potassium channel blocker that is prescrbed to improve walking and other motor activities. I, personally, have not noticed a huge improvement in my walking, but have noticed better stamina and minute improvements with my walkinging - noticely helping to keep my my toes from dragging in a manner common to ms called 'foot drop'. What's surprising is that the first thing anyone noticed with me after I started taking it was an improvement in my speach and cognition (thinking).
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