There are many treatments for multiplesclerosis that can help decrease the severity of the disease and improve the quality of life.

While there’s no cure for multiple sclerosis (MS), there are many treatments available. These treatments mainly focus on slowing down the progression of the disease and managing symptoms.

Different people can have different types of MS, and disease progression and symptoms range greatly from person to person. For both reasons, each person’s treatment plan will be different.

There are different types of treatments for Multiplesclerosis.

Disease-modifying medications can reduce the frequency and severity of MS episodes, or relapses. They also can reduce the number and size of lesions (damage to nerve fibers) and reduce symptoms.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has currently approved several drugs for modifying MS. They’re available as:

Injectables

The following drugs are injected.

  • interferon beta-1a (Avonex, Rebif)
  • The interferon alpha-1b is a drug.
  • glatiramer acetate (Copaxone, generic versions such as Glatopa)
  • pegylated interferon alpha-1a
  • ofatumumab (Kesimpta)

In 2018, the manufacturers of the injection daclizumab (Zinbryta) withdrew it from the market due to safety concerns.

Infusions

The therapies must be given at a licensed facility.

  • Alemtuzumab is a drug.
  • Novantrone is a drug called mitoxantrone.
  • natalizumab (Tysabri)
  • ocrelizumab (Ocrevus)

Oral treatments

These treatments are taken by mouth.

The following treatments are taken by mouth.

  • ozanimod (Zeposia)
  • diroximel fumarate (Vumerity)
  • monomethyl fumarate (Bafiertam)

Stem cells have the ability to treat neural damage caused by Multiplesclerosis.

Research on stem cells in MS has included test-tube studies, animal research, and some human studies. There are also a variety of ways that stem cells are used in the treatment of MS, such as bone marrow transplants.

According to one research review, mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy has shown to help repair the central nervous system (CNS), which becomes damaged with MS.

Stem cells work to do this, but it is not fully understood, and studies are ongoing to determine the effectiveness of stem cell therapy.

Diet

“There isn’t any research that supports a specific diet for Multiplesclerosis, but a balanced diet is recommended.”

Exercise

Staying active is critical to addressing MS symptoms and maintaining quality of life. Exercise helps:

  • Improve strength.
  • Increase cardiovascular health.
  • Improve mood.
  • Improve cognitive function.

Basic stretches are a good way to start your exercise routine. Add more demanding exercises when you feel comfortable.

  • walking
  • swimming
  • dancing
  • yoga
  • Resistance training
  • Aerobic exercise.

You can modify and build on your exercise program as you get stronger.

Spending time with people you enjoy can help you feel better. Staying social might be a good way to stay active.

Before starting an exercise program, it is advisable to talk to a doctor or physical therapist.

They can give recommendations for which activities are safe and beneficial, and they can also give suggestions for how to modify or adapt exercise routines as needed.

Physical therapy

People with Multiplesclerosis experience fatigue. You may not feel like exercising when you are tired.

The more exercise you get, the more tired you will feel. That is another reason why physical therapy is important.

Keeping session times short and increasing exercise over time are important factors.

If you’ve experienced a change in coordination, strength, or energy levels during a relapse, you may want to consider PT.

The goal of PT during relapse is to prevent muscle contractions and atrophy, or loss of your muscle tissue, due to immobility.

“In cases where a relapse causes weakness, passive muscle movements are necessary. If you can’t move your arms, legs, or other parts of the body yourself, the physical therapist can.”

A professional PT program can help improve your strength, physical function, and balance.

It is important to end a relapse as quickly as possible. Relapse treatments come in that area.

Corticosteroids

Inflammation is a key feature of the disease. It can lead to other symptoms of the disease.

  • fatigue
  • weakness
  • It is a It is a pain..

Corticosteroids are often used to ease inflammation and reduce the severity of MS attacks.

Corticosteroids used to treat MS include methylprednisolone (intravenous) and prednisone.

Other treatments

Other treatments that are sometimes used during a relapse may include:

  • ACTH (H.P. Acthar Gel): ACTH is an injection into your muscle or under your skin. It works by prompting the adrenal cortex gland to secrete the hormones cortisol, corticosterone, and aldosterone. These hormones help reduce the level of inflammation in your body.
  • Plasmapheresis: This process involves removing whole blood from your body and filtering it to remove antibodies that may be attacking your nervous system. The “cleansed” blood is then returned to you through a transfusion.
  • Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG): This treatment is an injection that helps modify abnormal inflammation mediated by the immune system. However, evidence of its benefits for MS relapses has been inconsistent in clinical studies.

The drugs listed above help treat the disease, but there are other treatments that can help with the physical symptoms of the disease.

Drugs for It is a It is a pain.. and other muscle problems

Muscle relaxants are often prescribed for people with MS. That’s because relaxing muscles helps with common MS symptoms such as:

  • It is a It is a pain..
  • There are muscle spasms.
  • fatigue

Depression can occur with multiplesclerosis if the symptoms are not alleviated.

Drugs for muscle stiffness include:

  • baclofen (Lioresal)
  • The cyclobenzaprine is a drug.
  • diazepam is a type of metal.
  • Tizanidine is a drug.

Drugs for fatigue

People with Multiplesclerosis can experience fatigue.

Drugs used to treat fatigue include modafinil (Provigil). They also include amantadine hydrochloride (Gocovri) and amphetamine-dextroamphetamine (Adderall), which is used off-label for this purpose. Off-label use is when a drug that’s approved for one purpose is used for another.

Fluoxetine (Prozac) is also often prescribed since it helps address both fatigue and depression.

Drugs for bladder and bowel problems

There are a lot of prescription drugs for bladder problems.

Over-the-counter stool softeners are often recommended to help ease constipation and bowel symptoms associated with MS. If you have questions about these products, consider consulting your doctor or pharmacist.

Though MS treatments can be helpful in managing the condition, they can also cause side effects. In general, some MS drugs can cause common side effects such as:

  • nausea
  • There are headaches.
  • Increased risk of infections.
  • Symptoms of infections are flu-like.

Treatment can make a big difference in how you feel, even though it can be difficult to cope with the disease.

If you work with your doctor to develop a treatment plan that addresses your medical issues, you can improve your physical symptoms and emotional outlook.

This article is in Spanish.