A Comprehensive Chart of Drugs that Treat Multiple Sclerosis
This is a chart that lists the drugs used to treat MS.
Drugs Used to Treat MS
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DRUGS
| GENERIC NAME
| INDICATION
| WORKS ON
| DOSAGE
| DOWNSIDE
| COMMENTS
|
Immune Modulators
| ||||||
Deltasone
| Prednisone
| Acute Attack
| Lymphocytes
| 60 Mg Then Decrease
| Stomach Acid, Restlessness, Immune Supprssion
| Side Effects Minimal In Short Course
|
Solumedrol
| Methylprednisolone
| Acute Attack
| Lymphocytes
| 1000 Mg I.V. Then Decrease
| Same But Higher Dose
| Same
|
Acthar Gel
| A.C.T.H.
| Acute Attack
| Same But Protein May Have Other Actions
| 80 Units I.M. Or I.V. Then Decrease
| Same Plus Edema
| Old Drug, Not always available
|
Imuran
| AzathiaPrine
| Chronic Immune Suppression
| Bone Marrow Antimetabolite
| 1.5-2 Mg/Kg/Day
| Inf Dis And Lymphoma Aplastic Anemia, Pregn.
| Questionably Effective To Prevent Attacks
|
Cytoxan
| Cyclophosphamide
| Severe Worsening
| Bone Marrow Suppression
| Short Course P.O. Or I.V.
| Severely Suppress Wbc Production, Hemorrhagic Cystitis
| Works For 6-12 Months
|
SandImmune, Neoral
| CycloSporine
| Immune Suppr
| T-Helper Lymphocytes
| ~ 5mg/Kg/D Follow Levels
| Ht, Renal Dysf Hirsutism
| May Damage White Matter
|
Betaseron
| Beta-Inter-Feron 1b
| Attack Prevention, decr "lesion burden
| Immune Modulation
| 9.6 M. Units Q.O.D. S,Q.
| Flu-Like Symptoms, Self-Injection, Expense, Depression?
| Decr. MRI Lesions
|
Avonex
| Beta Interferon 1a
| Attack Prevention, Decr. Disability
| Immune Modulation
| 30 Mcg Weekly I.M.
| Same As Betaseron But Less.
| More Like Human Protein
|
Copaxone
| Copolymer I, glatiramer
| Decr Disease Activity
| Allergic Desensitization?
| 20 mg. Q.D. S.Q. Inj
| Minimal
| Rare panic like spells
|
Affects certain immune cells.
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Rebif
| Beta Interferon 1a
| Decrease disease activity
| Immune Modulator
| 44mcg 3X a week SQ
| See Avonex and Betaseron
| Same drug as Avonex given at higher dose. Discussed in text
|
Sandoglobulin
| Human Immune Globulin
| Severe Worsening
| Immune Modulation
| 2 Gm/Kg I.V. Over 5 Days
| Analphylaxis Flu-Like Syndr
| ? Utility
|
Antegren, LeukArrest monoclonal Abs
| Elan, ICOS Pharmaceuticals.
| Blocks acute attack
| Blocks WBC adhesion to blood vessel
| experimental
| Experimental in human trials
| |
Anti-T-Helper Antibodies
| Attack, ?Betw Attacks
| Offending immune Cells
| Allergy, Decr. Effect, I.V.
| Future
| ||
Magic Bullet
| ||||||
Methotrexate
| Immune System, WBC
| Progressive MS
| 7.5-15mg/Wk
| Liver, WBC, Kidney, Lung
| ||
Trental
| pentoxifylline
| Betaseron flu- like effects
| ?
| 400 mg.
| minimal
| |
Anti-Spastic Drugs
| ||||||
Valium
| Diazepam
| Spasticity
| Spinal GAB-ergic neurons
| 4-20mg/D
| Drowsiness, Weakness
| |
Lioresal
| Baclofen
| Same
| Same
| 20-120 Mg/D
| Constipation, Weakness, Drowsiness
| |
Dantrium
| Dantrolene
| Same
| Muscle t-tubules
| 50-200 Mg/D
| Weakness Is Mechanism Of Effect, Liver Toxic
| Old Drug
|
Zanaflex
| Tizanidine
| Spacticity
| 4 mg 3x/D
| Sedation, dizziness
| ||
Dysesthesias
| ||||||
Tegretol
| Carbamazepine
| Tic Doloreux, Hemif. Spasm, Sensory Complaints
| Electrical after- discharge
| 200-800 Mg./D
| Ataxia, Wbc
| |
Dilantin
| Phenytoin
| Same
| Same As Teg
| 100-400mg/D
| Same
| |
Neurontin
| Gabapentin
| Same: pain, paresthesia
| Same
| 600-2400mg/D
| Clumsiness, Dizziness
| |
Norpramin
| Desipramine
| Paresthesia
| Increase pain threshold
| Up To 150 Mg
| Drowsiness, AntiCholinergic Effects
| One Of Whole Class Of Drugs
|
Urine And Bladder
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Detrol
| tolterodine
| Urge, freq.
| Acetylcholine
| 2mg twice daily
| Dry mouth, constipation
| |
Viagra
| Sildenafil
| impotence
| Incr. c-GMP
| 25-100 mg
| HA, flushing
| Do not use w/ nitrates
|
Ditropan
| Oxy-Butynin
| Urge Incontinence
| Inhibits bladder contraction
| ~5mg T.I.D.
| Urine Ret. Constip.
| |
Hytrin
| Terazosin
| Tight Sphincter
| Inhibits invol. sphincter
| 2-10mg
| Dizziness, Blood Pressure Drop
| |
Pro-Banthine
| Propanthelline
| Same as Ditropan
| Same as ditropan
| ~15mg T.I.D.
| Same
| |
Urecholine
| Bethane-Chol
| Overflow incontinence
| Increase bladder contr.
| Up To 150mg/D
| N, Diarr,
| Not Very Effective
|
Valium, Lioresal
| Tight outflow
| Decrease muscle tone
| As Above
| See Same Drugs Above
| ||
Nitrofurantoin, Trimethaprim, Sulfamethozazole, Vit C
| Prevent infection
| bacteriostatic
| Allergy, Resistent Strains
| |||
Tremor
| ||||||
INH
| Isoniazid
| Cerebellar tremor
| Formation of GABA
| 300mg/D + Vit B6
| Anxiety, Liver Toxic.
| |
Neurontin
| Gabapentin
| Tremor, titubation
| GABA?
| 300-2400 Mg/D
| Dizziness
| |
Neptazane
| Metha-Zolamide
| Tremor (Rest and action)
| ?
| 25-200 Mg/D
| Electr, Wbc Count
| |
Inderal
| Propranolol
| Rapid rest tremor
| Beta-adrenergic blocker
| Up To 240 Mg/D
| Fatigue, Decr Hr
| One Of Many
|
Xanax
| Alprazolam
| GABA
| Resting Tremor
| Up To 3 Mg./D
| Sedating
| One Of Many
|
Mysoline
| Primidone
| Resting tremor and ataxia
| Sedation, ?works on motor control?
| 50-1000mg/D
| Sedation, Nausea
| |
Activa (c) Tremor device
| resting and intention
| overrides tremor generating cells
| requires brain surgery
| |||
Fatigue
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4 -Aminopyridine
| Fatigue, increase function
| Potassium channels
| 5-10 mg. 3x/D
| Tingling, experimental,
| Can cause epileptic seizures,
| |
not approved
| ||||||
Symmetrel
| Amantadine
| Fatigue
| DOPA (transmitter)
| 100-200 Mg/D
| Agitation, Hallucination
| |
Cylert
| Pemoline
| Fatigue
| Norepinephrine
| 18.75-75mg/D
| Agitation
| Controlled Substance
|
Prozac
| Fluoxetine
| Fatigue, Depression
| Serotonin
| 20-60 Mg. /D
| Few Side Effects
| Decr libido
|
Decr libido
| ||||||
Paxil
| Paroxetine
| Fatigue, depression
| Serotonin
| 20-50mg
| agitation, fatigue
| decr. libido
|
Provigil
| Modafanil
| fatigue, lack of energy
| 200-400mg
| agitation sleeplessness
| good reports but not FDA approved for this indication.
| |
Eldepryl
| deprenyl
| Fatigue
| MAO-B
| 5-10 mg./D
| sleeplessness
| may interact with other drugs.
|
Yes There Are Many Drugs!
If you are anything like me, then you find it difficult to keep up with the Brand Names versus the Generic Name of all the drugs we deal with.
My goal is to remember the name that is easiest for me to recall. Most of the time that turns out to be the brand name, but since it is as good as my memory can do, I am quite content to remember just one of the various names the drug may be given
Divided Into Categories
One of the reasons I saved this chart is because I wanted a quick reference for when I needed to search a drug for a specific problem.
Did you notice Urine and Bladder has its very own group of drugs. Then there is my favorite Fatigue which lists most of the drugs used to battle that particular symptom. I think this is a convenient and quick resource when you need to learn basic information about a drug you are considering, or when you need a check list of sorts, to see which drugs remain untested by you, in regards to a specific symptom.
I am sure you will be impressed by the knowledge shared by someone who is a practicing physician. He understands all the demands and confusion that is centered around our understanding and keeping up with all the neurological problems MS presents.
His name is Dr. Charles Yanofsky and to give you an example of how fantastic his site is, I have quoted what he lists as 5 goals MS patients should aspire to attain.
" GOALS:
First, I’d like to present a few worthwhile goals.
1. Please try to learn all you can about MS. Apart from informing you about the disease, which lets you to make rational choices, knowledge decreases fear. A working vocabulary should help you communicate more efficiently. MS is not an abstraction. It is tangible entity and you don't need to be a rocket scientist to master the basics.
2. Along the way you will need to develop a general strategy for dealing with new challenges, one at a time, to divide an conquer. Some problems are relatively trivial, others important. Learning how to separate them out and deal with them one by one will help. For example, there are minor flares that don’t affect function. Should you stay out of work, go on bed rest? How soon should you call the doctor?, etc. Much of this knowledge will be acquired with experience over a long timeframe.
3. Develop a pattern of open communication with family, spouse, your doctor-- a support system, in other words. You are the expert about yourself and inner feelings which have to come out in some form. Inner turmoil will always be expressed, no matter how hard you try to repress it. You might as well express yourself candidly.
4. Pay attention to your general health. You will best be able to deal with symptoms if you have more stamina, and good health will decrease any possible disability. Jettisoning bad habits such as smoking and overeating is good, as well as developing an exercise regime (don’t over-do it, regularity is the ticket) and it improves your energy level and feeling of well-being. You will be able to get around problems easier with the right attitude and a high energy level.
5. Your ultimate goal is for MS to make as little impact as possible on your life. While you should focus on it in an adaptive way, through the above mechanisms, MS should not take over your life. You should strive to keep your limitations to a minimum, to get out of the house, to focus on other fulfilling parts of life."
Whether newly diagnosed, or a seasoned veteran of MS, I find his goals apply to us all equally and serve as great reminders of how to live successfully with the MonSter.
Have you already decided on your favorite suggestion for a goal? I think my favorite is the very last one, #5.
Who among us doesn't fight everyday so that MS doesn't take over our lives and define us in only the narrowest way. We don't want to be known because we have MS, we want the other parts of our personality to shine through. We do what we can to keep the MS in place, even when it means we have to make choices that are difficult and taxing for us.
I feel much better when I make decisions that will enable my life to be less impacted by MS. I like the positive energy that comes from being determined not to give in to my fears and engage in dangerous speculation that would depress me if I gave it the chance.
While I am thrown periodically, I find Dr. Yanofsky's advice about surrounding myself with friends and family who are positive and encouraging holds the key to surmounting the mountain of doubt that sometimes lurks in front of me.
Also, how beneficial it is for us all not to try to suppress our feelings, thinking it will make adjusting and dealing with MS easier. Open, candid communication is what is needed. It is truly an important goal to try to achieve, as it means increased peace of mind for us individually.
While this site is massive in size, it is something you can go back and read in measured doses. A newly diagnosed person will want to start at the very beginning of the site so that you avail yourself to the encouragement offered by the doctor.
I find myself discovering something helpful every time I make the time to look back on his site. I hope it proves just as beneficial for you.