Dalfampridine

**Semantic type:** Pharmacologic Substance

**Definition:** An orally bioavailable potassium channel blocker, that can be used to improve walking in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and may potentially be used in the recovery of nerve injury, improve cognition, improve gait, and improve certain neuropathies, such as optic neuritis in MS. Upon oral administration, dalfampridine selectively binds to and blocks exposed potassium channels on the axon membranes, which increases conduction of action potentials in demyelinated axons. This enhances the strength and speed of nerve signals sent from the brain, and leads to an increase in walking ability and speed as well as improve other symptoms in patents with MS. In MS and certain nerve injuries, nerve fibers are damaged and exposed potassium channels can lead to the leaking of potassium ions, which interferes with the proper conduction of electrical signals along the nerve fiber.

**Synonyms:** - 4-AP - 4-Aminopyridine - 4-Pyridinamine - Ampyra - DALFAMPRIDINE - Fampridine