Three categories of MS medicine exist. There are those for Relapsing Remitting MS, Secondary Progressive MS, and Primary Progressive MS. Multiple Sclerosis medicine can vary between these levels of MS as well. As the disease progresses, the name changes, but moving up from one category to the next can take many years.
Interferon beta is a medication generally prescribed to RR MS patients, but it can also be given to some SP MS patients who are experiencing relapses. Glatiramer acetate is another type of med given to people with RR MS. Both of these medicines are injected anywhere from daily to once a week, depending on the type of med. MS medicine news has stated a new oral medication should be on its way in the next year or two.
For acute relapses in RR MS and sometimes in SP MS, dexamethasone, prednisone, and methylprednisolone are prescribed. Each of these are corticosteroids and given to MS patients to regulate inflammation and alter the immune system’s response. Getting the immune system to quit attacking the myelin sheaths covering nerves is a challenge in MS patients.
The prescribed meds used to slow the progression of MS can include any of the following; interferon beta-1a, interferon beta-1b, glatiramer acetate, mitoxantrone, natalizumab, or fingolimod. These drugs each are able to change the way the body’s immune system responds, thus preventing the myelin from being stripped away from the nerves.
New MS Medicine in the Making
New Multiple Sclerosis medicine is being researched constantly, in hopes of finding something that will prevent MS from advancing or even occurring at all. The very first oral drug for people with Multiple Sclerosis hasn’t been around long at all. Fingolimod was the first oral medication the FDA approved that has shown to slow down the progression of MS. It also reduces the severity of the disease.
The newest medicine to join the ever-growing family of MS meds is Laquinimod. This prescription drug is also taken orally and has shown to slow progression and without any side effects. The studies performed so far have been completely positive. Only one dose is needed daily.
There are hopes for FDA approval to be received by the end of 2012 for this MS medicine. The amount of positive information collected from the research over the past couple of years on this particular Multiple Scelrosis medicine is phenomenal. It’s highly likely the FDA will offer its approval and allow Laquinimod to be distributed by doctors to MS patients of all stages in the near future.
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