Ok, here's my take on Ampyra.
It is helping me. It took me awhile to get on the ball and figure out a way to evaluate it. This is not scientific, just my take!
I walked in heels for four hours for the DSD's wedding. First time in years I wore heels and I shed them asap but I walked in them! (I have to qualify this- They fit when I put them on the first time, but when I put them on with nylons, I was a-slippin' and a-slidin', which didn't make it look graceful at ALL! It was more of a "mincing" or a "prancing" than a walk but I survived!)
I get up from a seated position without making "that" noise now. I'm not using the arms of chairs to lever myself up anymore, my legs are doing the work. I still want a toilet that is higher than "chair height" (BTW, that's a freakin' lie, yanno! Chair seats should be three feet off the ground!) but I get up without doing the 1-2-THREE! I find myself leaping out of chairs now- at least higher chairs!
It doesn't do a darned thing for spasticity for me. I'm still stiff and spazzy but it doesn't stop me from pretending that I'm not.
I go further, faster. I hear that's what it's supposed to do, so I guess it's working.
I haven't had any other sides. I forget to take it on time but I've developed a rule. I take my meds now as soon as I get home from work at 7:30 a.m. and again after supper. I'm getting better at it, but still forget sometimes and have to adjust the whole schedule when I forget, since you're not supposed to take them closer than 12 hours apart. I've taken them as close as ten hours apart and haven't had any adverse effect but I don't push it. I haven't had a seizure yet!
I have to drink more water. I'm floating away. The side effect of UTI's scares me. After the one and only that I had, I don't want a repeat, so I am the water carrier! I have a water bottle permanently attached to my hand now. They're like purses, I have a different one for every day! It doesn't hurt but I am getting to the point that I hate water...
...and bathrooms with short toilets!
I am sure now that none of this is wishful thinkng, so I am going to stick with it for now!