What to know about MS treatment
There are many different ways to treat multiple sclerosis (MS), and you may find that some treatments work better than others. Developing a plan with your health care team is the best strategy for managing MS, including any medications.
Multiple sclerosis medications are broadly divided into three groups: those that reduce the risk of relapses and disease progression (also known as disease-modifying therapies or DMTs), those that treat active relapse, or those that can help relieve specific
. The types of medications used depend on several factors, including the type of multiple sclerosis and your individual circumstances.
Some of the available treatments include:
- DMTs, also called immunotherapies, work by modifying the activity of the immune system to slow the frequency and severity of attacks on the central nervous system. These medications are often prescribed to people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, where evidence has shown the greatest effect.
- Corticosteroid medication is used to reduce symptoms from an acute relapse, by relieving inflammation at the affected site.
- Medicines to help with specific multiple cases of sclerosis, such as treating incontinence, cramping, pain, or depression.
It can be frustrating if treatments don't work for you or don't work as well as you want them to. If this happens, talk to your neurologist, multiple sclerosis nurse, or GP to discuss other options. It is also important to tell your healthcare team if you are using alternative or complementary treatments alongside your medication treatments, to ensure there are no interactions or potential side effects from their inclusion.
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease that affects the central nervous system. In multiple sclerosis, the immune system attacks and damages the protective layer that surrounds nerves. The damaged coating disrupts communication between the central nervous system (CNS), which consists of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves, and the rest of the body. This leads to a wide range of symptoms.
The exact cause of multiple sclerosis (MS) is unknown, but researchers believe it involves certain genetic and environmental factors.
There is no cure for multiple sclerosis. However, doctors can recommend several treatments to slow its progression, relieve symptoms, and improve the quality of life for people with this condition. Treatment is not always necessary and people may prefer to give it up due to the potential side effects of some medications.
Keep reading to learn more about the treatments and treatments available for MS.
As there is no cure trusted Source for MS, treatment aims to:
- slow the course of the disease
- Managing Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms
- Treating relapses of MS, also called attacks
- Improving and maintaining a person's daily functioning
Most people with multiple sclerosis have a team of health care professionals working on their care. The neurologist specializes in MS and serves as the team leader. A neurologist makes a diagnosis of MS and suggests treatment options for the patient.
The course and symptoms of MS vary from person to person, so treatment will be unique to each patient.
Other members of the multiple sclerosis treatment teams may include:
- nurses
- Registered Dietitian or Dietitian
- Occupational therapist
- Physiotherapist
- Primary health care provider
- psychology
- Speech pathologist
- Social worker
- Bladder specialist
Healthcare professionals use medications to treat and manage symptoms of multiple sclerosis. There are several FDA-approved multiple sclerosis medications. These drugs, also called disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), come in oral, injectable, and infusion forms. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society lists the following medications:
Oral medications
A person can take oral medications in tablet form. These include:
- fingolimod
- teriflunomide
- Dimethyl fumarate
- Deroxymil Fumarate
- monomethyl fumarate
- laquinimod
- Cladribine
- siponimod
- bonsimode
- ozanimod
Injectable Medicines
A person can inject the following medications for multiple sclerosis:
- Interferon-beta-1a
- interferon-beta-1b
- glatiramer acetate
- ofatumumab
Infusion therapy
Doctors will administer this type of treatment by injection into a person's vein. It includes the following:
- natalizumab
- alemtuzumab
- ocrelizumab
- mitoxantrone
- alemtuzumab
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