Welcome to the MSAA Ultimate MS Treatment Guide
The MSAA Ultimate MS Treatment Guide compares different FDA-approved MS treatments. This powerful tool includes medical experts and patient advocates discussing their first-hand experience, so you can make an informed choice that is right for you.
Watch this welcome message from Dr. Barry Hendin
Select Up to Three to Compare
Common side effects affecting more than 1 person in 100 (for full details see individual therapy entries)
- Increase in liver enzymes
- Nausea and diarrhea
- Hair thinning
Less common, but serious side effects (for full details see individual therapy entries)
- Inflammation of the liver which can cause liver failure (rare). Monitored by blood work monthly for the first 6 months.
Learn about Aubagio® with MS Neurologist Dr. Kyle Smoot
Common side effects affecting more than 1 person in 100 (for full details see individual therapy entries)
- Flu-like symptoms
- Upper respiratory infection
- White Blood Count and liver test abnormalities
Less common, but serious side effects (for full details see individual therapy entries)
- Heart failure
- White Blood Count problems
- Thyroid problem
- Seizures
- Liver damage
Learn about Avonex with MS Neurologist Dr. Derrick Robertson.
Common side effects affecting more than 1 person in 100 (for full details see individual therapy entries)
- Flushing and stomach problems, especially at the start of therapy, and may decrease over time
- Redness, itching, rash
- Diarrhea
Less common, but serious side effects (for full details see individual therapy entries)
- Allergic reactions
- PML (progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy)
- Serious infections
- Liver injury
Learn about Bafiertam with MS Neurologist Dr. Augusto Miravalle.
Common side effects affecting more than 1 person in 100 (for full details see individual therapy entries)
- Flu-like symptoms
- Injection-site skin reaction
- White Blood Count and liver test abnormalities
Less common, but serious side effects (for full details see individual therapy entries)
- Liver abnormalities
- Heart problems and hypertension
- Kidney problems
Learn about Betaseron® with MS Neurologist Dr. Annette Howard.
Common side effects affecting more than 1 person in 100 (for full details see individual drug entries)
- Infusion related reactions
- Infection (most were respiratory-tract related)
- Headache
- Nasopharyngitis (cold symptoms)
- Pyrexia (fever)
- Nausea
Less common, but serious side effects (for full details see individual drug entries)
- Serious infection (no opportunistic infections were reported)
Learn about Briumvi® with MS Neurologist Dr. Larry Steinman
Common side effects affecting more than 1 person in 100 (for full details see individual therapy entries)
- Nausea
- Injection site reactions
- Lipoatrophy (injection site indentations in the skin)
Less common, but serious side effects (for full details see individual therapy entries)
- Immediate post-injection reaction
- Liver problems
Learn about Copaxone® with MS Neurologist Dr. Andrew H. Woo
Common side effects affecting more than 1 person in 100 (for full details see individual therapy entries)
- Liver function test abnormalities
- High blood pressure
- Respiratory infections
Less common, but serious side effects (for full details see individual therapy entries)
- Serious infections including progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), fungal (cryptococcal meningitis) and malignancies including skin cancer and lymphoma
- Risk of serious rebound MS disease activity if stopped
Learn about Gilenya® with MS Neurologist Dr. Barry A. Singer
Common side effects affecting more than 1 person in 100 (for full details see individual therapy entries)
- Headache and upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), including sore throat, runny nose
- Injection-related reactions (fever, headache, muscle pain, chills, and fatigue)
- Local injection site reactions (redness, pain, itching, and swelling)
Less common, but serious side effects (for full details see individual therapy entries)
- Infections: hepatitis B or hepatitis C viruses reactivation
- Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML)
- Weakened immune system
Learn about Kesimpta® with MS Neurologist Dr. Erica M. Rivas-Rodriguez
Common side effects affecting more than 1 person in 100 (for full details see individual therapy entries)
- Infusion site reactions
- Increased risk of Infection
- Over-or-underactive thyroid
Less common, but serious side effects (for full details see individual therapy entries)
- Emergent autoimmune diseases
- Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP, a potentially severe bleeding disorder)
- Increased risk of malignancies including thyroid cancer, melanoma and lymphoproliferative disorders
Learn about Lemtrada® with Nurse Practitioner Megan Weigel, DNP
Common side effects affecting more than 1 person in 100 (for full details see individual therapy entries)
- Upper respiratory tract infections
- Headache
- Decreased lymphocyte counts
Less common, but serious side effects (for full details see individual therapy entries)
- Lymphopenia
- Herpes zoster infection
- Risk of malignancy (cancer)
- Tuberculosis
- Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML)
Learn about Mavenclad® with MS Neurologist Dr. Barry A. Hendin
Common side effects affecting more than 1 person in 100 (for full details see individual therapy entries)
- Headache
- High blood pressure
- Changes in liver function
Less common, but serious side effects (for full details see individual therapy entries)
- Decrease in white blood cells (increase risk of infection)
- Decrease heart rate and rhythm abnormalities
- Swelling of the macula of the eye
- Varicella zoster reactivation (virus that causes shingles)
- Hypertension
- Convulsions
Learn about Mayzent with MS Neurologist Dr. Annette Okai
Common side effects affecting more than 1 person in 100 (for full details see individual therapy entries)
- Nausea
- Alopecia (hair thinning)
- Stomatitis (mouth irritation)
Less common, but serious side effects (for full details see individual therapy entries)
- Heart failure: Systolic dysfunction
- Acute promyelocytic leukemia
- Amenorrhea (absence of menstruation)
Learn about Novantrone® with MS Neurologist Dr. James Bowen
Common side effects affecting more than 1 person in 100 (for full details see individual therapy entries)
- Infusion related reactions
- Chest, gastrointestinal and skin infections
- Viral infections including herpes
Less common, but serious side effects (for full details see individual therapy entries)
- Cancer
- Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML)
Learn about Ocrevus with MS Neurologist Dr. Elizabeth Crabtree
Common side effects affecting more than 1 person in 100 (for full details see individual therapy entries)
- Flu-like symptoms
- Injection-site skin reaction
- White Blood Count and liver test abnormalities
Less common, but serious side effects (for full details see individual therapy entries)
- Liver failure. Blood tests can monitor liver enzymes
- Depression
Learn about Plegridy® with MS Neurologist Dr. Jeffrey English
Common side effects affecting more than 1 person in 100 (for full details see individual therapy entries)
- Upper respiratory tract infections
- Elevated liver enzymes
- High blood pressure
Less common, but serious side effects (for full details see individual therapy entries)
- Serious infections
- Slowed heart rate (bradycardia or bradyarrhythmia)
- Skin cancer
Learn about Ponvory with MS Neurologist Dr. Regina Berkovich
Common side effects affecting more than 1 person in 100 (for full details see individual therapy entries)
- Flu-like symptoms
- Injection-site skin reaction
- White Blood Count and liver test abnormalities
Less common, but serious side effects (for full details see individual therapy entries)
- Seizures
- Liver problems, including liver failure
- Can affect bone marrow causing low red and white blood cell and platelet counts
- Depression and suicidal thoughts
Learn about Rebif® with MS Neurologist Dr. Lori Hendin Travis
Common side effects affecting more than 1 person in 100 (for full details see individual therapy entries)
- Flushing
- Pruritus (chronic itching)
- Erythema (skin redness or rash).
- Gastrointestinal upset, diarrhea, and nausea
Less common, but serious side effects (for full details see individual therapy entries)
- Decrease in white blood cells (lymphopenia)
- Increased liver function enzymes
- Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML)
Learn about Tecfidera® with MS Neurologist Dr. Carrie M. Hersh
Common side effects affecting more than 1 person in 100 (for full details see individual therapy entries)
- Headache and fatigue
- Infections like upper respiratory tract infection or urinary tract infection (UTI)
- Infusion reactions
Less common, but serious side effects (for full details see individual therapy entries)
- Risk of serious infection, including pneumonia
- Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML)
Learn about Tysabri® with MS Neurologist Dr. Heidi Crayton
Common side effects affecting more than 1 person in 100 (for full details see individual therapy entries)
- Flushing
- Stomach problems
- Redness, itching, rash
Less common, but serious side effects (for full details see individual therapy entries)
- Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML)
- Central nervous system infections
- Decreased white blood cell count
- Liver problems
Learn about Vumerity® with MS Neurologist Dr. Mitzi Joi Williams
Common side effects affecting more than 1 person in 100 (for full details see individual drug entries)
- Infection
- Liver enzyme elevation
- Short-term Bradycardia (slow heart rate)
Less common, but serious side effects (for full details see individual drug entries)
- Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML)
- PRES Syndrome
- Macular edema
- Rebound after stopping
Learn about Zeposia® with MS Neurologist Dr. Léorah Freeman
MSAA would like to thank the healthcare professionals and patient advocates, as well as our Healthcare Advisory Council, who participated in the creation of the Ultimate MS Treatment Guide and played an essential role in guiding its content.
The information in the Ultimate MS Treatment Guide does not constitute medical advice and is for informational purposes only.
As with all treatment decisions, you are urged to consult your physician.
The MSAA Ultimate MS Treatment Guide has been made possible through generous support from the following:
