Periodic paralysis: cross-border specialty drug access for international patients

Quick orientation

Primary periodic paralyses (hypokalemic, hyperkalemic, Andersen-Tawil syndrome) collectively affect an estimated 1 in 100,000 people.

Typical age of onset. Typically in childhood or adolescence; family history is often present.

Severity tiers. Severity ranges from infrequent mild attacks to frequent disabling weakness and respiratory involvement.

Why specialty drugs for Periodic paralysis are hard to access internationally

Keveyis (dichlorphenamide) is the only FDA-approved drug for primary periodic paralyses. It is not registered in many international markets, and local supply via compounding pharmacies is uneven.

Treatments approved by the FDA

• Keveyis (dichlorphenamide) — FDA approval: 2015. Mechanism: Carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. Route: Oral twice daily. US WAC ballpark: Approximately USD 130,000 per year. Country pricing: India · Qatar · Kuwait.

Cross-border pathways used for Periodic paralysis

Most patients use one or more of the following regulatory pathways, depending on the destination country and the specific drug:

• Named Patient Program (NPP)
• Expanded Access Program (EAP)
• Compassionate Use
• Personal Import Scheme

What your physician needs to know

• Confirm subtype (hypokalemic, hyperkalemic, Andersen-Tawil) by genotyping and provocation testing where applicable.
• Document attack frequency and triggers.
• Monitor for metabolic acidosis and electrolyte changes on therapy.
• Neuromuscular specialist co-management is recommended.

Common questions

Is Keveyis available in my country?

Most international markets do not have a registered version. We confirm by destination.

What about potassium management?

Acute episode management depends on subtype; chronic preventive therapy is the goal of Keveyis.

How long is treatment?

Indefinite, in most patients with active disease.

How long does shipment take?

Five to ten business days from prescription receipt.

What documents are required?

Neuromuscular specialist's prescription, genetic or biochemical confirmation, and clinical summary.

Where Reserve Meds fits in

Reserve Meds is a cross-border specialty drug access platform. We support international patients whose prescribed FDA-approved medicine is not registered locally, is not reimbursed by their payer, or is otherwise unavailable through standard channels. For Periodic paralysis, our role is to coordinate the regulatory pathway, source the medicine from a DSCSA-compliant US wholesaler, and arrange validated cold-chain or controlled-temperature shipment to the destination country.

We do not replace your treating physician. We do not bill insurance. We operate a cash-pay model, and we work alongside the clinical team that knows your case. Every prescription is reviewed by a US-licensed pharmacist before dispense, and a US-licensed physician reviews the supply request before shipment.

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