There is currently no cure for multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis is a progressive disease. Treatment for multiple sclerosis is focused on managing symptoms and slowing progression of the disease.

Types of Treatments

Treatments for managing the symptoms of multiple sclerosis may include:

Plasmapheresis, also called plasma exchange, which separates plasma from blood cells, which is used to manage severe attacks

Medications used treat multiple sclerosis and slow disease progression may include:

Corticosteroids, such as prednisone and methylprednisolone, which reduce inflammation

Monoclonal Antibodies, such as alemtuzumab, natalizumab, and ocrelizumab, that help to prevent inflammation and nerve damage

Chemotherapy, such as cladribine, to prevent inflammation and nerve damage

Nrf2 activators, such as dimethyl fumarate and diroximel fumarate, to decrease inflammation and prevent nerve damage

Immunosuppressants, such as fingolimod, glatiramer acetate, siponimod, and teriflunomide, that target the body’s immune system, or the body’s natural defenses, to prevent attacks and slow progression of the disease

Other treatments

Other treatments to help slow the progression of multiple sclerosis may include:

  • Physical therapy
  • Muscle relaxants, such as baclofen, tizanidine, cyclobenzaprine, and botulin toxin A
  • Medications to reduce fatigue, such as amantadine, modfafinil, and methylphenidate
  • Medications to increase walking speed, such as dalfampridine
  • Other medications to help ease insomnia, pain, bladder or bowel control problems, or sexual dysfunction
  • Anti-seizure medications

Assistive devices

As the disease progresses, some individuals with multiple sclerosis may need the use of assistive devices, such as canes or crutches, or wheelchairs.

Lifestyle approaches and complementary medicine

Lifestyle approaches and complementary medicine that may help to improve symptoms of multiple sclerosis include:

  • A healthy, high fiber, low fat diet
  • Exercise, which may improve fatigue and walking ability
  • Stress reduction to avoid worsening of symptoms
  • Acupuncture, which may help to relieve pain and improve walking ability

Long-Term Follow Up

Ongoing, long-term follow-up is an essential part of treatment for patients with multiple sclerosis to help slow disease progression and monitor treatment effectiveness.

Sources

This content was written by the MediFind Medical Team. Last updated: 6/9/2022

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Approved Drugs

These are drugs that have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), meaning they have been determined to be safe and effective for use in Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

Found 25 Approved Drugs for Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Beta-1A

Brand Names
Rebif, Rebif REBIDOSE, Avonex

Beta-1A

Brand Names
Rebif, Rebif REBIDOSE, Avonex
AVONEX is indicated for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), to include clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease, in adults. AVONEX is for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), to include clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease, in adults. ( 1 )

MethylPREDNISolone

Brand Names
Solu-Medrol MethylPREDNISolone, Solu-Medrol, Medrol

MethylPREDNISolone

Brand Names
Solu-Medrol MethylPREDNISolone, Solu-Medrol, Medrol
When oral therapy is not feasible, and the strength, dosage form, and route of administration of the drug reasonably lend the preparation to the treatment of the condition, the intravenous or intramuscular use of Methylprednisolone Sodium Succinate for Injection, USP, is indicated as follows: Allergic states Control of severe or incapacitating allergic conditions intractable to adequate trials of conventional treatment in asthma, atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, drug hypersensitivity reactions, perennial or seasonal allergic rhinitis, serum sickness, transfusion reactions. Dermatologic diseases Bullous dermatitis herpetiformis, exfoliative erythroderma, mycosis fungoides, pemphigus, severe erythema multiforme (Stevens-Johnson syndrome). Endocrine disorders Primary or secondary adrenocortical insufficiency (hydrocortisone or cortisone is the drug of choice; synthetic analogs may be used in conjunction with mineralocorticoids where applicable; in infancy, mineralocorticoid supplementation is of particular importance), congenital adrenal hyperplasia, hypercalcemia associated with cancer, nonsuppurative thyroiditis. Gastrointestinal diseases To tide the patient over a critical period of the disease in regional enteritis (systemic therapy) and ulcerative colitis. Hematologic disorders Acquired (autoimmune) hemolytic anemia, congenital (erythroid) hypoplastic anemia (Diamond-Blackfan anemia), idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in adults (intravenous administration only; intramuscular administration is contraindicated), pure red cell aplasia, selected cases of secondary thrombocytopenia. Miscellaneous Trichinosis with neurologic or myocardial involvement, tuberculous meningitis with subarachnoid block or impending block when used concurrently with appropriate antituberculous chemotherapy. Neoplastic diseases For the palliative management of leukemias and lymphomas. Nervous System Acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis; cerebral edema associated with primary or metastatic brain tumor, or craniotomy. Ophthalmic diseases Sympathetic ophthalmia, uveitis and ocular inflammatory conditions unresponsive to topical corticosteroids. Renal diseases To induce diuresis or remission of proteinuria in idiopathic nephrotic syndrome or that due to lupus erythematosus. Respiratory diseases Berylliosis, fulminating or disseminated pulmonary tuberculosis when used concurrently with appropriate antituberculous chemotherapy, idiopathic eosinophilic pneumonias, symptomatic sarcoidosis. Rheumatic disorders As adjunctive therapy for short-term administration (to tide the patient over an acute episode or exacerbation) in acute gouty arthritis; acute rheumatic carditis; ankylosing spondylitis; psoriatic arthritis; rheumatoid arthritis, including juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (selected cases may require low-dose maintenance therapy). For the treatment of dermatomyositis, temporal arteritis, polymyositis, and systemic lupus erythematosus.

Tysabri

Generic Name
Natalizumab

Tysabri

Generic Name
Natalizumab
TYSABRI is an integrin receptor antagonist indicated for treatment of: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) TYSABRI is indicated as monotherapy for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis, to include clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease, in adults. TYSABRI increases the risk of PML [See Warnings and Precautions.

Glatiramer Acetate

Brand Names
Glatopa, Copaxone

Glatiramer Acetate

Brand Names
Glatopa, Copaxone
COPAXONE is indicated for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), to include clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease, in adults. COPAXONE is indicated for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), to include clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease, in adults ( 1 ).

Fingolimod

Brand Names
Tascenso Odt, Gilenya

Fingolimod

Brand Names
Tascenso Odt, Gilenya
Fingolimod capsules are indicated for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), to include clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease, in patients 10 years of age and older. Fingolimod is a sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulator indicated for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), to include clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease, in patients 10 years of age and older.
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