At the Brigham MS center we share a vision to treat MS patients early in order to secure better long term outcomes for our patients. We recognize that patients are individuals and will require that medicines are tailored to their needs. We carefully monitor our patients and will reassess our treatment approach at the first sign of any disease activity. We also believe that effective symptom management is at the core of successful MS treatment.
Over the past two decades, there has been considerable progress in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. There are now several therapeutic options available to patients. Your doctor will discuss these treatment options in detail and recommend treatments that are appropriate for your care. The following medications are available for patients:
Injectable Disease Modifying Therapies
- Betaseron (interferon beta 1b) – subcutaneous injection taken every other day.
- Avonex (interferon beta 1a) – intra muscular injection taken once weekly.
- Rebif (interferon beta 1a) – subcutaneous injection taken 3 times per week.
- Copaxone/ Glatopa(glatiramer acetate) – subcutaneous injection taken 3 times a week or daily.
Oral Disease Modifying Therapies
- Gilenya (fingolimod)) – pill taken once a day
- Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate) – pill taken twice a day
- Aubagio (teriflunomide)– pill taken once a day
- Mayzent (siponimod) – pill taken once daily
- Mavenclad (cladribine) – pills taken as two treatment courses over 2 years. Each treatment course consists of 2 treatment weeks, one month apart
Infusion Disease Modifying Therapies
- Tysabri (natalizumab) – Once a month infusion
- Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) – Once every 6 months
- Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) -5 infusion days – one year later 3 infusion days – additional infusions as needed
For Management of Acute Relapses
Steroids
- Intravenous methylprednisolone (Solumedrol) is used to treat relapses or exacerbations. It is given for 3 to 7 days with the premise that treatment decreases the duration and severity of the present attack.
- Intravenous methylprednisolone may be given on a once monthly basis as an addition to a baseline medication.
