Overview

Medications are used in multiple sclerosis (MS) to, treat relapses — also called attacks or — and manage. Along with the other essential components of, these medications help people manage their MS and enhance their comfort and quality of life.

Modifying the disease course

The following US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved disease modifying therapies for MS have been found through clinical trials to reduce the number of relapses, delay progression of disability, and limit new disease activity (as seen on MRI)

Following the treatment plan that you and your doctor have established is the best possible strategy for managing your MS:

• Early and ongoing treatment with disease-modifying therapy is supported by the which includes the National MS Society. This evidence-based (.pdf) and may be useful when discussing treatment options with your healthcare provider and advocating with insurers for access and coverage. This paper was last updated in 2016.
• The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) has developed for adults with clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting MS and progressive forms of MS. The National MS Society and Multiple Sclerosis Association of America has endorsed these guidelines.
• is a key element of treatment effectiveness.
• For help in managing the costs of these medications, read about the offered by the pharmaceutical companies.

Under certain circumstances, some healthcare providers may use medications to treat MS that have FDA approval for other diseases — also called “off-label” use. Over the past few decades.

Managing relapses

MS are caused by inflammation in the central nervous system that damages the myelin coating around nerve fibers. This damage slows or disrupts the transmission of nerve impulses and causes the symptoms of MS. Most relapses will gradually resolve without treatment.

For severe relapses (involving loss of vision, severe weakness or poor balance, for example), which interfere with a person’s mobility, safety or overall ability to function, most neurologists recommend treatment with corticosteroids. The most common treatment regimen is a three-to-five-day course of high-dose, intravenous corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and end the relapse more quickly. This regimen may or may not be followed with a slow taper of oral prednisone. Corticosteroids are not believed to have any long-term benefit on the disease. Medication options include:

• High-dose intravenous (methylprednisolone)
• High-dose oral (prednisone)
• (ACTH)

Managing symptoms

A wide variety of medications are used to help manage the. Below are common symptoms of MS and the medications used to treat those symptoms.

Bladder Problems

Dysfunction

• Botox (onabotulinumtoxin A)
• DDAVP Nasal Spray (desmopressin)
• Detrol (tolterodine)
• Ditropan (oxybutynin), Ditropan XL
• Enablex (darifenacin)
• Flomax (tamsulosin)
• Hytrin (terazosin)
• Minipress (prazosin)
• Myrbetriq (mirabegron)
• Oxytrol (oxybutynin)
• Pro-Banthine (propantheline)
• Sanctura (trospium chloride)
• Tofranil (imipramine)
• Vesicare (solifenacin succinate)

Infection

• Bactrim; Septra (sulfamethoxazole)
• Cipro (ciprofloxacin)
• Macrodantim (nitrofurantoin)
• Hiprex (methenamine)
• Pyridium (phenazopyridine)

Bowel Dysfunction

• Colace (docusate)
• Dulcolax (bisacodyl)
• Enemeez (docusate stool softener laxative)
• Fleet Enema (sodium phosphate)
• Mineral Oil
• Metamucil (psyllium hydrophilic musilloid)
• Phillips Milk of Magnesia (magnesium hydroxide)
• Sani-Supp suppository (gylcerin)

Depression

• Cymbalta (duloxetine hydrochloride)
• Effexor (velafaxine)
• Paxil (paroxetine)
• Prozac (fluoxetine)
• Wellbutrin (bupropion)
• Zoloft (sertraline)

Dizziness and Vertigo

• Antivert (meclizine)

Emotional Changes

• Nuedexta (dextromethorphan + quinidine)

Fatigue

• Amantadine
• Provigil (modafinil)
• Prozac (fluoxetine)

Itching

• Atarax (hydroxyzine)

Pain

• Dilantin (phenytoin)
• Elavil (amitriptyline)
• Klonopin (clonazepam)
• Neurontin (gabapentin)
• Pamelor; Aventyl (nortriptyline)
• Tegetrol (carbamazepine)

Sexual Problems

• Cialis (tadalafil)
• Levitra (vardenafil)
• Papaverine
• MUSE (alprostadil)
• Prostin VR (alprostadil)
• Viagra (sildenafil)

Spasticity

• Botox (onabotulinumtoxin A)
• Dantrium (dantrolene)
• Gablofen (baclofen [intrathecal])
• Klonopin (clonazepam)
• Lioresal (baclofen)
• Valium (diazepam)
• Zanaflex (tizanidine)

Tremors

• Laniazid – Nydrazid (isoniazid)
• Klonopin – Rivotril – Syn-Clonazepam (clonazepam)

Walking (Gait) Difficulties

• Ampyra (dalfampridine)