Multiple Sclerosis Specialty Pharmacy
Multiple sclerosis is a disease whereby the body's immune damages the protective covering of the nerves
Conditions
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a potentially disabling disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. The signs and symptoms of multiple sclerosis can vary widely based upon the amount of damage and nerves affected. Treatment can relieve MS symptoms and delay disease progression.
People with multiple sclerosis (MS) tend to have their first symptoms between the ages of 20 and 40. Sometimes the symptoms may improve, but then come back. Some may come and go, while others linger. Some of the early symptoms of MS include
Blurred or double vision
Thinking problems
Clumsiness or a lack of coordination
Loss of balance
Numbness
Tingling
Weakness in an arm or leg
Once a diagnosis of MS has been made by a neurologist specializing in the disease, there are 4 typical patterns that the symptoms follow, however all symptoms can regress and progress unexpectedly;
Relapsing-remitting (RRMS): This is a pattern of relapses alternating with remissions that can last months or years
Primary-progressive (PPMS): This is a pattern of gradual disease progression with no remissions or obvious relapses
Secondary-progressive (SPMS): This is a pattern of relapses alternating with remissions followed by gradual progression of the disease
Progressive-relapsing (PRMS): This is a pattern of gradual disease with sudden relapses
If you've been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, know that MS doesn't have to control your life. You can work with your doctor to treat and manage your symptoms so you can stay healthy and continue to live the life you want. There have been many recent advancements in therapeutics treating MS (see below). New treatments have dramatically reduced relapses, reduced progression of the disease, and improved quality of life.
Medications
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Acthar Gel
Acthar Gel is a prescription medication used to treat adults with exacerbations (flares) of Multiple Sclerosis. Acthar works directly with your body to help produce its own natural steroid hormones. It is not a steroid.
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Ampyra
Ampyra (dalfampridine) is a potassium channel blocker that is used to improve walking in adult patients with MS.
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Avonex
AVONEX (Interferon Beta-1A) is an injectable treatment for relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). Interferon is not a cure for MS, but it may help to decrease the number of attacks of weakness and slow the progression of the disease.
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Betaseron
Betaseron (interferon beta-1b) is used to treat multiple sclerosis. Interferon is not a cure for multiple sclerosis, but it may help to decrease the number of attacks of weakness and slow the worsening of the disease. It works by affecting the body's natural defenses (immune system) in many ways. Adding more interferon may help your body fight the effects of multiple sclerosis.
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Copaxone
Copaxone (glatiramer) is used to treat a type of multiple sclerosis that occurs when symptoms appear in cycles of worsening and improvement (relapsing/remitting multiple sclerosis-MS). It is a protein that is thought to work by preventing your immune system from attacking the nerves in your brain and spinal cord. This effect can decrease the number of periods of disease worsening (relapses) and prevent or delay disability. This drug is known as an immunomodulator. It is not a cure for MS.
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Extavia
EXTAVIA (interferon beta-1b) is a prescription medicine used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis including clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease, in adults. EXTAVIA is similar to certain interferon proteins that are produced in the body.
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Gilenya
Gilenya is used to treat a certain type of multiple sclerosis (relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis-MS). It is not a cure for MS but it is thought to help by preventing immune system cells (lymphocytes) from attacking the nerves in your brain and spinal cord. It helps decrease the number of episodes of worsening and may prevent or delay disability.
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Kesimpta
KESIMPTA (ofatumumab) is used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS); (including relapsing-remitting MS). It is not a cure for MS, but it is thought to be an antibody targeting a protein called CD20, which is found on the surface of immune system B-cells. Kesimpta works by lowering the amount of B-cells that drive damaging inflammation in the nervous system and contribute to MS development.
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Mayzent
Mayzent (siponimod) is used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis-MS including clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease, in adults. It is not a cure for MS but is thought to work by decreasing certain immune system cells (lymphocytes) which can attack the nerves in your brain and spinal cord. This helps decrease the number of flare-ups (relapses) and may help slow down physical problems caused by MS.
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Plegridy
Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a) is a prescription medicine used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), to include clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease, in adults. Peginterferon is not a cure for MS, but it may help to decrease the number of episodes of disease worsening (relapses) and slow the worsening of the disease.
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Rebif
REBIF (interferon beta-1a) is used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) to include clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease, in adults. It is a protein that is thought to work by preventing your immune system from attacking the nerves in your brain and spinal cord. This effect can decrease the number of periods of disease worsening (relapses) and prevent or delay disability. This drug is known as an immunomodulator. It is not a cure for MS.
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Tecfidera
Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate) is used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). It is not a cure for MS. It helps decrease the number of episodes of worsening MS.
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Zeposia
Zeposia is a prescription medication used to treat adults with relapsing forms of Multiple Sclerosis including clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease. Zeposia is a sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulator, which is thought to act by retaining certain white blood cells (lymphocytes) in the lymph nodes, thereby preventing those cells from crossing the blood-brain barrier into the central nervous system (CNS).
More
Information
There are a number of treatment options for Multiple Sclerosis. New treatments have dramatically reduced relapses, reduced progression of the disease, and improved quality of life. MS should be diagnosed and treated by a neurologist specializing in this disease.