People with MS can experience a variety of symptoms with varying degrees of severity. Every patient experiences MS symptoms differently according to the part of the central nervous system that is affected and to what degree.
The symptoms can be a combination of different health problems, from motor control (including muscular spasms and problems with weakness, coordination, balance, and functioning of the arms and legs), to fatigue, bladder and bowel issues, sexual dysfunction, neuropsychological symptoms (including memory loss, depression, emotional changes, and cognitive difficulties), and other neurological symptoms (including vertigo, pain and visual disturbances).
Managing symptoms usually involves pharmaceutical treatments combined with physical therapies and lifestyle adaptions and supports.
A wide variety of medications is available to help manage multiple sclerosis symptoms.
Here are the common symptoms of MS and therapies usually prescribed for them.
Therapies Muscular Spasms in Multiple Sclerosis
Muscular spasms may be also called spasticity, which is when the muscles contract, become stiff, or spasm involuntary.
- Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA)
- Dantrium (dantrolene)
- Gablofen (baclofen – intrathecal)
- Klonopin (clonazepam)
- Lioresal (baclofen)
- Intrathecal phenol
- Valium (diazepam)
- Zanaflex (fizanidine)
Therapies for Tremors in Multiple Sclerosis
Tremors are uncontrollable shakings that can occur in different parts of the body.
Therapies for Walking (gait) difficulties in Multiple Sclerosis
Walking difficulties are among the most common limitation in people with MS, and are related to muscle weakness, spasticity, balance, sensory deficit, and fatigue.
Therapies for Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis
Fatigue occurs in about 80 percent of patients and is one of the main causes of early retirements.
Therapies for Bladder problems in Multiple Sclerosis
(include dysfunction and infection)
- Dysfunction
- Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA)
- Dysport
- DDAVP Nasal Spray (desmopressin)
- Detrol (tolterodine)
- Ditropan (oxybutynin), Ditropan XL
- Enablex (darifenacin)
- Flomax (tamsulosin)
- Hytrin (terazosin)
- Minipress (prazosin)
- Oxytrol (oxybutynin)
- Pro-Banthine (propantheline)
- Sanctura (trospium chloride)
- Tofranil (imipramine)
- Vesicare (solifenacin succinate)
- Infection
Therapies for Bowel dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis
- Colace (docusate)
- Dulcolax (bisacodyl)
- Enemeez (docusate stool softener laxative)
- Fleet enema (sodium phosphate)
- Mineral oil
- Metamucil (psyllium hydrophilic musilloid)
- Philips Milk of Magnesia (magnesium hydroxide)
- Sani-Supp suppository (glycerin)
Therapies for Sexual problems in Multiple Sclerosis
Therapies for Depression in Multiple Sclerosis
- Cymbalta (duloxetine hydrochloride)
- Effexor XR (venlafaxine)
- Paxil (paroxetine)
- Prozac (fluoxetine)
- Wellbutrin (bupropion)
- Zoloft (sertraline)
Therapies for Emotional changes in Multiple Sclerosis
Therapies for Vertigo and Dizziness in Multiple Sclerosis
Therapies for Pain Management in Multiple Sclerosis
- Dilantin (phenytoin)
- Elavil (amitriptyline)
- Klonopin (clonazepam)
- Neurontin (gabapentin)
- Pamelor; Aventyl (nortriptyline)
- Tegretol (carbamazepine)
Therapies for Itching in Multiple Sclerosis
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