MS Treatment Options

When choosing an MS treatment, there are many things to consider. Effectiveness, ease of use, side effects and safety are all key issues. Multiple sclerosis is a lifelong disease, so it’s important to find an MS treatment you can live with. Right now, there is no cure, but some MS treatments have been shown to slow the progression of physical disability and/or relapses. Being on treatment can make a difference. There are risks and benefits to each MS treatment option. To help decide which is right for you, ask your doctor about:

Effectiveness: How well does each MS treatment work?
Ease of use: How is each MS treatment taken and how often?
Side effects: What are they and how will they affect my daily life?
Safety: Is there any special safety information I should know about?

Treating the Underlying Disease with MS Treatment

The most common injectable therapies for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis are:

AVONEX® (Interferon beta-1a) MS Treatment

Active ingredient: Interferon beta-1a, a naturally occurring human protein
How it is given: Intramuscular (into the muscle) injection given 1 time each week.
Indication: AVONEX (Interferon beta-1a) is approved by FDA to treat relapsing forms of MS to decrease the number of flare-ups and slow the occurrence of some physical disability that is common in people with MS. AVONEX is appropriate for use in people who have experienced a first attack and have lesions consistent with MS on their MRI.

For more information about AVONEX, please see the Important Safety Information.

Rebif® (Interferon beta-1a) MS Treatment

Active ingredient: Interferon beta-1a, a naturally occurring human protein
How it is given: Subcutaneous (under the skin) injection given 3 times each week.
Indication: Rebif is indicated for the treatment of patients with relapsing forms of MS to decrease the frequency of flare-ups and delay the accumulation of physical disability

For more information about Rebif, please see the Important Safety Information.

Betaseron® (Interferon beta-1b) MS Treatment

Active ingredient: Interferon beta-1b, a modified human protein
How it is given: Subcutaneous (under the skin) injection given 3-4 times each week.
Indication: Betaseron is indicated for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis to reduce the frequency of flare-ups. Patients with multiple sclerosis in whom efficacy has been demonstrated include patients who have experienced a first attack and have MRI features consistent with multiple sclerosis.

For more information about Betaseron, please see the Important Safety Information.

Copaxone® (glatiramer acetate) MS Treatment

Active ingredient: Glatiramer acetate, a synthetic compound
How it is given: Subcutaneous (under the skin) injection given 7 times each week.
Indication: Copaxone is indicated for reduction of the frequency of flare-ups in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

For more information about Copaxone, please see the Important Safety Information.

The chart below can help you sort out the differences between the various injectable MS treatments.

*People with MS in whom effectiveness has been demonstrated include people who have experienced a first attack and have lesions consistent with MS on their MRI.

Before you begin any MS treatment, it is important to discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. You and your doctor should review all the options available and find a treatment that is right for you.

Infused Treatments

Infusion therapies may be an option for patients. These medications are administered directly into the bloodstream through a vein. Ask your doctor or nurse if infusion therapy may be right for you, as well what the latest infusion therapy is, and what the most important information is that you should know.

Lifestyle Changes

You may also want to consider making lifestyle changes, in addition to treating your underlying MS. Diet, exercise and other changes can help you manage multiple sclerosis symptoms. Visit these pages to get tips on how to live better with MS.

Important Safety Information About AVONEX

AVONEX can cause serious side effects, so before you start taking AVONEX, you should talk with your doctor about the possible benefits of AVONEX and its possible side effects to decide if AVONEX is right for you.

Sometimes interferons, including AVONEX, make people feel sad. If you are taking AVONEX, and feel unusually sad, you should tell a family member or friend right away and call your doctor as soon as possible.

Some people have had severe allergic reactions, a drop in their red or white blood cell levels, a drop in the cells that help to form blood clots, heart problems, changes in their thyroid function, or seizures. Your liver may be affected by taking AVONEX and a few patients have developed severe liver injury. Your healthcare provider may ask you to have regular blood tests to make sure that your liver is working properly. If your skin or the whites of your eyes become yellow or if you are bruising easily you should call your doctor immediately.

AVONEX has not been studied in pregnant women. If you become pregnant while taking AVONEX, you should stop taking AVONEX immediately, tell your doctor, and consider enrolling in the AVONEX Pregnancy Registry by calling 1-800-456-2255.

Most people who take AVONEX have flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, sweating, muscle aches, and tiredness) early during the course of therapy. For many people, these symptoms lessen or go away over time. Talk to your doctor if these symptoms continue longer than the first few months of therapy, or if they are difficult to manage.

For more information, refer to the Patient Medication Guide. This information is not intended to replace discussions with a healthcare provider.

Next: What MS Treatment is Right for Me?

_{Betaseron® is a registered trademark of Bayer HealthCare
Pharmaceuticals, Inc.}

_{Rebif® is a registered trademark of EMD Serono, Inc.}

_{Copaxone® is a registered trademark of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries,
Ltd.}