There are numerousmedicationsthat have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of relapsing forms of MS, including relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). All have been shown to reduce the number of relapses (also called attacks or exacerbations) and number of new lesions (also called plaques or scars) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and they may also slow disease progression. Most MS experts recommend that people consider starting one of these medications as soon as the diagnosis of RRMS has been confirmed. Of these medications, seven are injectable (Avonex, Betaseron, Copaxone, Extavia, Glatopa, Plegridy,Rebifand Zinbryta(Zinbryta [daclizumab]was withdrawn from the worldwide market on March 2, 2018. Please see important information about the withdrawal in ourSociety News),three are oral (Aubagio, Gilenya and Tecfidera), and three are infused (Lemtrada, Novantrone and Tysabri). Novantrone is approved specifically for people with worsening RRMS in other words, those whose RRMS is progressing in spite of treatment with one of the first-line medications -- as well as those with secondary-progressive MS. Lemtrada is approved for people with relapsing forms of MS who have had an inadequate response to at least two other disease-modifying therapies. View post: Treating relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) : National Multiple ... … Continue reading →

Articles OnMultiple Sclerosis Treatments Multiple Sclerosis Treatments Multiple Sclerosis Treatments There's no cure for multiple sclerosis (MS), but medicines and lifestyle changes can help you manage the disease. Work closely with your doctor to find the treatment that's best for you and causes the fewest side effects. If you have a type of multiple sclerosis called relapsing-remitting MS and your condition is acting up, your doctor may first treat you with a disease-modifying drug. These medicines slow down the advance of your disease and prevent flare-ups. The drugs work by curbing the immune system -- your body's main defense against germs -- so that it doesn't attack the protective coating called myelin that surrounds the nerves. Some drugs come as injections under your skin or into a muscle. The shot might make your skin sore, red, itchy, or dimply. They include: Beta interferons: These are some of the most common drugs used to treat MS. They ease the severity and frequency of flares. They can also cause flu-like symptoms, like aches, fatigue, fever, and chills, but these should fade within a few months. They may make you slightly more likely to get an infection. Thats because they lower the number … Continue reading →

Is Sleep Really More Important For MS Patients? Quite simply? Yes. It is. If you asked me the most important thing someone with multiple sclerosis should do, I would say to ensure they get good sleep. Even if they do nothing else as part of their treatment plan (and to be clear: I would never recommend good sleep as their only treatment recommendation), it’s incredibly important that MS patients get good sleep, preferably at least seven to nine hours of solid, sound sleep. What do I mean by solid, sound sleep? I mean you fall asleep and stay asleep. Of course, that can be incredibly difficult for MS patients, who may suffer from pain, spasticity, anxiety, bladder issues, and even the actual effects of MS on the brain—all things that can make good sleep more difficult. But Why Is Sleep So Important? Quite simply, sleep affects every part of everything in your body. Sleep affects your energy levels, sure, but also your pain, weight, skin, even your heart. Sleep helps determine your mental state, as it influences your moods, memory, decision-making processes, ability to concentrate, your judgment, even your reaction times. Sleep is the hidden engine for your brain. It … Continue reading →