Each year, 12,000 people receive a new diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and join the nearly one million Americans living with this disease. It’s not surprising that those first learning of their condition will have a lot of questions.
Learning about the disease and what might be ahead on the MS road helps most new patients feel empowered and better able to manage their MS.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common questions new MS patients have on their minds.
1. What kind of multiple sclerosis do I have?
Patients with MS are generally classified as having one of the following forms of multiple sclerosis:
- Clinically-Isolated Syndrome (CIS), this is a condition considered to ‘probably’ be MS.
- Relapsing-Remitting MS (RRMS), this is by far the most common form of multiple sclerosis.
- Primary-Progressive (PPMS), this is diagnosed when there have not been any remissions.
- Secondary-Progressive (SPMS), this is diagnosed when the condition becomes consistently progressive.
2. What are my MS treatment options?
Multiple sclerosis disease-modifying medications generally fall into three categories: infusion, oral, and injection-based. Examples of these medications are as follows:
Infusion medications
- Lemtrada® (alemtuzumab)
- Novantrone® (mitoxantrone)
- Ocrevus® (ocrelizumab)
- Tysabri® (natalizumab)
Oral medications
- Aubagio® (teriflunomide)
- Bafiertam™ (monomethyl fumarate)
- Dimethyl Fumarate (dimethyl fumarate – generic equivalent of Tecfidera)
- Gilenya® (fingolimod)
- Mavenclad® (cladribine)
- Mayzent® (siponimod)
- Tecfidera® (dimethyl fumarate)
- Vumerity® (diroximel fumarate)
- Zeposia® (ozanimod)
Injectables
- Avonex® (interferon beta-1a)
- Betaseron® (interferon beta-1b)
- Copaxone® (glatiramer acetate)
- Extavia® (interferon beta-1b)
- Glatiramer Acetate Injection (glatiramer acetate -generic equivalent of Copaxone 20 mg and 40 mg doses)
- Glatopa® (glatiramer acetate – generic equivalent of Copaxone 20mg and 40mg doses)
- Kesimpta® (ofatumumab)
- Plegridy® (peginterferon beta-1a)
- Rebif® (interferon beta-1a)
3. What can be done for my other troublesome symptoms related to MS?
Aside from the primary symptoms of MS, there are many other problems that can be associated with this condition. A robust plan of care will also include treatments to address common health complaints of MS patients, including fatigue, pain, bladder/bowel problems, spasticity, tremors, dizziness, depression, sexual problems, itching, and gait difficulties.
Give your MS patients a caring and reliable specialty pharmacy partner for the journey ahead, refer to BioPlus Specialty Pharmacy today.
