Columns The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias Are Your MS Disease-modifying Treatments Old School or New School? Are Your MS Disease-modifying Treatments Old School or New School? by Ed Tobias | August 23, 2019 Share this article: Share article via email Copy article link Choosing which MS medication to use is one of the most difficult decisions for someone with MS and their neurologist. After 39 years with MS, and with four disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) on my medical chart, I’m definitely on the hit-it-fast, hit-it-hard side of that treatment decision. So, I was pleased to read an article in Brain & Life magazine reporting that “doctors today are less likely to wait to start [DMT] treatment. Research shows that treating MS with an immune-suppressant therapy beginning with the first attack not only may prevent future flare-ups but also may slow disease progression.” The article outlines the arguments for early treatment, but it also provides examples of cases where neurologists have taken a wait-and-see approach. And it follows several people with MS through their treatment decision process. It’s one of the best articles I’ve read on this subject, providing a good overview of all 17 DMTs that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. It weighs the benefits and risks of each and also compares slow and fast treatment approaches. Old school or new school? Some in the neurology community consider the different approaches to be old school versus new school. One of the new schoolers is Dr. Aaron Boster, a neurologist who specializes in MS at OhioHealth Neurological Physicians in Columbus. Though I’ve never been his patient, everything that I’ve read or viewed tells me that Dr. Boster is a neurologist who gets it. Though he’s firmly in the treat-it-fast camp, he also understands that any treatment decision must involve a patient’s overall lifestyle. Dr. Boster is not alone in his views, but he certainly has a unique way of getting his views out to the MS community: As you can see, there’s a lot to consider when you’re deciding the best way to treat your MS. To help you out a bit, here’s a list of disease-modifying therapies that are approved for use in the United States. (Most are also approved elsewhere in the world.) It might be useful to take it with you the next time you talk to your neurologist. DMT EFFICACY**Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā TYPEĀ Ā Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) High Infusion Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) High Infusion Tysabri (natalizumab) High Infusion Aubagio (teriflunomide) Medium Pill Gilenya (fingolimod) Medium Pill Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate) Medium Pill Mavenclad (cladribine) Medium Pill Mayzent (siponimod) Medium Pill AvonexĀ (interferon beta-1a) Low Shot Betaseron (interferon beta-1b) Low Shot Copaxone (glatiramer acetate)* Low Shot Extavia (interferon beta-1b) Low Shot Glatopa (glatiramer acetate) Low Shot Mylan (glatiramer acetate) Low Shot Plegridy (interferon beta-1a) Low Shot Rebif (interferon beta-1a) Low Shot * Also available as a generic Ā Ā **Efficacy ratings from clinical trials noted in Brain & Life You’re invited to visit my personal blog at www.themswire.com *** Note: Multiple Sclerosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Multiple Sclerosis News Today or its parent company, BioNews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to multiple sclerosis. Print This Page About the Author Ed Tobias People say to write what you know and Ed Tobias knows about MS. He's lived with the illness since 1980, when he was 32 years old. Ed's a retired, award-winning broadcast journalist and his column combines his four decades of MS experiences with news and comments about the latest in the MS community. In addition to writing his column, Ed is one of the patient moderators on the MS News Today Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram sites. Heās also the author of āThe Multiple Sclerosis Toolbox: Hints and Tips for Living with M.S.ā Ed and his wife split their time between the Washington, D.C. suburbs and Floridaās Gulf Coast, trying to follow the sun. Tags Aaron Boster, disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) Comments Leave a comment Fill in the required fields to post. Your email address will not be published. Your Name Your Email Your Comment Post Comment
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