Side effects from prescription treatments are unavoidable, and MS therapies are no exception. However, side effects vary from person to person. Also, some people may be able to deal with certain side effects better than others.
If you are experiencing side effects, talk to your healthcare provider before stopping treatment. There may be ways to manage them or different treatment options for you.
Some of the most common side effects from MS treatment are injection-site reactions, rash, muscle pain or stiffness, fever, fatigue, headaches, chills, nausea, and vomiting.
Some Side Effects Related to Injectable MS Treatments
- Injection-site reactions (redness, irritation, infection)
- Flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, and aches)
- Fatigue
- Lipoatrophy (loss of fat cells that may cause a permanent dent at the injection site—there is no treatment available for this)
- Necrosis (destruction and death of the tissue surrounding the sites of injection)
Please refer to individual patient medication guides for a full list.
Side Effects Related to Infused MS Treatments
- Headache
- Pain including stomach, arms, legs, joints
- Depression and mood changes
- Hypersensitivity or allergic reaction
- Infection
- Nausea or diarrhea
- Rash or mouth sores
With any medication there is the potential for rare and serious side effects. This is only a partial list of possible treatment side effects. Please refer to individual patient medication guides for a full list. Always talk to your healthcare provider about any questions you may have about side effects.
