Living with an epilepsy diagnosis means facing a road that’s rarely straight or smooth. It’s a journey filled with twists, setbacks, and moments where you question everything. As someone who has been navigating epilepsy for decades, I know how frustrating and unpredictable life with seizures can be. Additionally, it is important to remember that zero seizures, while a worthy goal, may not be possible for everyone living with epilepsy. If we allow ourselves to focus on the road to reduction of seizures, we are that much closer to living well with epilepsy.

Introducing the “Road to Reduction”

That’s why the XCOPRI® (cenobamate tablets) CV, indicated for partial onset seizures in adults, commercial resonated with me. This national campaign from SK Life Science Inc., titled “Road to Reduction,” offers an honest, emotional look at what it means to live with epilepsy – and the hope that comes from finding an epilepsy treatment that works for you.

The commercial tells the story of a young man and his father on a road trip. As they travel, they face obstacles that represent the real fears many of us carry: the fear that making a change to our medication will make things worse, the fear of trying a new epilepsy medication, the fear of side effects, and the fear of disappointment after so many previous setbacks. It’s a journey many of us in the epilepsy community understand all too well.

Reduction of Seizures

I know firsthand how important it is to have open, informed conversations with your doctor when you are living with epilepsy or caring for a loved one with epilepsy. And advocating for yourself is especially important if you’re still experiencing seizures or side effects while on an anti-seizure medication. XCOPRI is a prescription medication for adults with partial-onset seizures, and for some patients, it has helped reduce or even eliminate seizures over time.

Like any medication, XCOPRI has risks and benefits. Do not take XCOPRI if you are allergic to it or have a genetic problem (called familial short QT syndrome) that affects the electrical system of the heart. XCOPRI can have serious side effects including serious allergic reaction which may affect organs and other parts of your body like the liver or blood cells. XCOPRI may cause problems with the electrical system of the heart (QT shortening). Antiseizure drugs, including XCOPRI, may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people, about 1 in 500. Call your doctor right away if you have suicidal thoughts or actions, or new or worsening depression, anxiety, or irritability. XCOPRI may cause problems that affect your nervous system, including dizziness, trouble walking or with coordination, feeling sleepy and tired, trouble concentrating, remembering and thinking clearly, and vision problems. Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how XCOPRI affects you. These are not all of XCOPRI’s side effects. I encourage you to read the Important safety information included at the end of this article.

For those struggling to control their seizures, discussing XCOPRI with a neurologist or epileptologist may be a critical step.

Your Road to Reduction Starts with a Conversation

If you’re living with epilepsy or care for someone who is, I encourage you to watch “Road to Reduction” and share it. It’s a reminder that our stories matter, that we deserve to feel heard, and that we can still move forward.

You can view the full commercial here:

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION and INDICATION for XCOPRI® (cenobamate tablets) CV

DO NOT TAKE XCOPRI IF YOU:

· Are allergic to cenobamate or any of the other ingredients in XCOPRI.

· Have a genetic problem (called Familial Short QT syndrome) that affects the electrical system of the heart.

XCOPRI CAN CAUSE SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS, INCLUDING:

Allergic reactions: XCOPRI can cause serious skin rash or other serious allergic reactions which may affect organs and other parts of your body like the liver or blood cells. You may or may not have a rash with these types of reactions. Call your healthcare provider right away and go to the nearest emergency room if you have any of the following: swelling of your face, eyes, lips, or tongue, trouble swallowing or breathing, a skin rash, hives, fever, swollen glands, or sore throat that does not go away or comes and goes, painful sores in the mouth or around your eyes, yellowing of your skin or eyes, unusual bruising or bleeding, severe fatigue or weakness, severe muscle pain, frequent infections, or infections that do not go away. Take XCOPRI exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it. It is very important to increase your dose of XCOPRI slowly, as instructed by your healthcare provider.

QT shortening: XCOPRI may cause problems with the electrical system of the heart (QT shortening). Call your healthcare provider if you have symptoms of QT shortening including fast heartbeat (heart palpitations) that last a long time or fainting.

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

Nervous system problems: XCOPRI may cause problems that affect your nervous system. Symptoms of nervous system problems include: dizziness, trouble walking or with coordination,

feeling sleepy and tired, trouble concentrating, remembering, and thinking clearly, and vision problems. Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how XCOPRI affects you.

Do not drink alcohol or take other medicines that can make you sleepy or dizzy while taking XCOPRI without first talking to your healthcare provider.

DISCONTINUATION:

Do not stop taking XCOPRI without first talking to your healthcare provider. Stopping XCOPRI suddenly can cause serious problems. Stopping seizure medicine suddenly in a patient who has epilepsy can cause seizures that will not stop (status epilepticus).

DRUG INTERACTIONS:

XCOPRI may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how XCOPRI works. Do not start or stop other medicines without talking to your healthcare provider. Tell healthcare providers about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements.

PREGNANCY AND LACTATION:

XCOPRI may cause your birth control medicine to be less effective. Talk to your health care provider about the best birth control method to use.

Talk to your health care provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if XCOPRI will harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant while taking XCOPRI. You and your healthcare provider will decide if you should take XCOPRI while you are pregnant. If you become pregnant while taking XCOPRI, talk to your healthcare provider about registering with the North American Antiepileptic Drug (NAAED) Pregnancy Registry. The purpose of this registry is to collect information about the safety of antiepileptic medicine during pregnancy. You can enroll in this registry by calling 1-888-233-2334 or go to www.aedpregnancyregistry.org.

Talk to your health care provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if XCOPRI passes into breastmilk. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby while taking XCOPRI.

COMMON SIDE EFFECTS:

The most common side effects in patients taking XCOPRI include dizziness, sleepiness, headache, double vision, and feeling tired.

These are not all the possible side effects of XCOPRI. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch.

DRUG ABUSE:

XCOPRI is a federally controlled substance (CV) because it can be abused or lead to dependence. Keep XCOPRI in a safe place to prevent misuse and abuse. Selling or giving away XCOPRI may harm others and is against the law.

INDICATION:

XCOPRI is a prescription medicine used to treat partial-onset seizures in adults 18 years of age and older.

It is not known if XCOPRI is safe and effective in children under 18 years of age. Please see additional patient information in the Medication Guide. This information does not take the place of talking with your healthcare provider about your condition or your treatment. Please see full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide.