Infusion Treatment
Some MS medications are infusion treatments. This means that the medication is a liquid that is administered directly into the bloodstream. Infusion treatments enter the bloodstream through a vein in the arm.
There are a variety of places infusion treatments are administered. They can be given in a hospital, an infusion center, or a specially-equipped doctor’s office. While the schedule and timing of the infusion vary with each medication, the procedure remains the same: your temperature and vital signs are checked, an IV needle is inserted, and the infusion begins. Vital signs are checked again after the infusion is complete.
It is important to remember that all medications have side effects and risks. The common side effects of infusion medications vary, but can often be controlled. Notify your healthcare provider if you notice signs or symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as: hives, chills, itching, rash, trouble breathing, nausea, chest pain, flushing of skin, dizziness, and low blood pressure. Serious allergic reactions, though not common, usually happen within 2-hours of the start of the infusion, but can happen at any time after receiving an infusion. Infusion therapies may also be associated with more serious adverse events. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any symptom of an allergic reaction, even if it happens after you leave the infusion center. You may need treatment if you are having an allergic reaction.
Talk to your health care provider to decide if infusion therapy may be right for you.
