Treatments

**Can Multiple Sclerosis be Treated?**
 * [[file:treatments for MS.doc]] ||  ||

There are no known cures for curing or preventing multiple sclerosis. However, there are many different types of treatments available that will help to slow down the progression of the disease as well as shorten the length of exasperations. These include corticosteroids and plasma exchange for treating and exasperation, and Beta Interferons, Glatiramer, Natalizumab and Mitoxantrone. Patients also can benefit from physical and occupational therapy, as well as other various medications to treat symptoms such as fatigue.

**“Beta Interferons** such as Betaseron and Avonex are genetically engineered copies of proteins that occur naturally in the body. Doctors believe these drugs reduce the frequency and severity of attacks.”( Mayo Clinic) Betaseron is administered by an injection under the skin while Avonex is injected into the muscle. (quite painful I am told) A friend of mine, now deceased, who had MS used to receive an Avonex injection once a week. The injection was quite painful and one of the side effects of the drug was flu like symptoms that lasted for a day or two after the injection. The injection was given once a week and he would get it on a Friday so that he had the weekend to recover.

**“Glatiramer or Copaxone** as it is known, is an injection that is taken daily rather than once a week. Doctors believe that this drug blocks the immune systems attack on myelin.” (Mayo Clinic)

**“Natalizumab or Tysabri** as it is known reduces the frequency of MS attacks by limiting the ability of immune cells to move from your blood stream to your brain and is given monthly. This is only given to a patient if the other drugs do not benefit a patient as it can increase the risk of a serious brain infection.” (Mayo Clinic)

**“Mitoxantrone or Novantrone** is usually recommended for patients who have very aggressive relapsing-remitting or secondary progressive MS. It is administered through an IV. This is given to patients who are not benefiting from taking either beta interferons or glatiramer drugs.” (Mayo Clinic)

[|MS Treatments]