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Medications for Multiple Sclerosis

Other names: MS

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Feb 19, 2024.

Treatments for Multiple Sclerosis can be grouped into those used for relapses (such as corticosteroids or plasma exchange), those that slow down the progression of MS and reduce the number of relapses (such as Avonex, Rebif, Copaxone, Glatopa, Kesimpta, Aubagio, Tecfidera, Vumerity, Bafiertam, Gilenya, Mayzent, Zeposia, Ponvory, Mavenclad, Tysabri, Ocrevus, or Lemtrada) and those that treat specific MS symptoms, such as depression, muscle spasms, fatigue, or pain. 

Treatment for Relapses

  • Corticosteroids (prednisone, dexamethasone): Reduce inflammation and shorten the duration of relapses. Examples include oral prednisone and intravenous methylprednisolone.
  • Plasma exchange: Removes harmful antibodies from the blood. Used for severe relapses unresponsive to steroids.

Treatments that Modify Disease Progression

Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) slow down the progression of MS and reduce the number of relapses. Several types are available:

Emerging treatments include Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors and stem cell transplantation.

Treatment for Specific MS Symptoms

Other treatments such as antidepressants (eg, SSRIs) for depression, muscle relaxants (eg, baclofen) for spasticity, modafinil for fatigue, and gabapentinoids (gabapentin and pregabalin) for pain may be used to help manage specific symptoms of MS.

Drugs used to treat Multiple Sclerosis

The following list of medications are in some way related to or used in the treatment of this condition.

Filter
Drug name Rating Reviews Activity ? Rx/OTC Pregnancy CSA Alcohol
Copaxone 7.6 133 reviews for Copaxone to treat Multiple Sclerosis
Rx B N
Generic name:
glatiramer systemic
Drug class:
other immunostimulants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Tecfidera 6.3 98 reviews for Tecfidera to treat Multiple Sclerosis
Rx C N
Generic name:
dimethyl fumarate systemic
Drug class:
selective immunosuppressants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Ocrevus 4.7 157 reviews for Ocrevus to treat Multiple Sclerosis
Rx N
Generic name:
ocrelizumab systemic
Drug class:
CD20 monoclonal antibodies
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Rebif 6.9 29 reviews for Rebif to treat Multiple Sclerosis
Rx C N X
Generic name:
interferon beta-1a systemic
Drug class:
interferons
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Ampyra 8.0 77 reviews for Ampyra to treat Multiple Sclerosis
Rx C N
Generic name:
dalfampridine systemic
Drug class:
miscellaneous central nervous system agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Gilenya 7.0 94 reviews for Gilenya to treat Multiple Sclerosis
Rx C N
Generic name:
fingolimod systemic
Drug class:
selective immunosuppressants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Tysabri 7.9 96 reviews for Tysabri to treat Multiple Sclerosis
Rx C N
Generic name:
natalizumab systemic
Drug class:
selective immunosuppressants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Avonex 7.2 44 reviews for Avonex to treat Multiple Sclerosis
Rx C N X
Generic name:
interferon beta-1a systemic
Drug class:
interferons
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Betaseron 7.0 7 reviews for Betaseron to treat Multiple Sclerosis
Rx C N X
Generic name:
interferon beta-1b systemic
Drug class:
interferons
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Kesimpta 6.7 60 reviews for Kesimpta to treat Multiple Sclerosis
Rx C N
Generic name:
ofatumumab systemic
Drug class:
CD20 monoclonal antibodies, selective immunosuppressants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
glatiramer 7.3 150 reviews for glatiramer to treat Multiple Sclerosis
Rx B N
Generic name:
glatiramer systemic
Brand names:
Copaxone, Glatopa
Drug class:
other immunostimulants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Vumerity 9.4 6 reviews for Vumerity to treat Multiple Sclerosis
Rx N X
Generic name:
diroximel fumarate systemic
Drug class:
selective immunosuppressants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Aubagio 5.4 84 reviews for Aubagio to treat Multiple Sclerosis
Rx X N X
Generic name:
teriflunomide systemic
Drug class:
selective immunosuppressants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
dimethyl fumarate 6.5 109 reviews for dimethyl fumarate to treat Multiple Sclerosis
Rx C N
Generic name:
dimethyl fumarate systemic
Brand name:
Tecfidera
Drug class:
selective immunosuppressants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
interferon beta-1a 7.4 95 reviews for interferon beta-1a to treat Multiple Sclerosis
Rx C N X
Generic name:
interferon beta-1a systemic
Brand names:
Rebif, Avonex, Avonex Pen, Avonex Prefilled Syringe, Rebif Rebidose
Drug class:
interferons
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
Mavenclad 9.0 2 reviews for Mavenclad to treat Multiple Sclerosis
Rx D N
Generic name:
cladribine systemic
Drug class:
antimetabolites
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
ocrelizumab 4.8 172 reviews for ocrelizumab to treat Multiple Sclerosis
Rx N
Generic name:
ocrelizumab systemic
Brand name:
Ocrevus
Drug class:
CD20 monoclonal antibodies
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph
Zeposia 8.7 4 reviews for Zeposia to treat Multiple Sclerosis
Rx N
Generic name:
ozanimod systemic
Drug class:
selective immunosuppressants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
cladribine 7.0 4 reviews for cladribine to treat Multiple Sclerosis
Rx D N
Generic name:
cladribine systemic
Brand name:
Mavenclad
Drug class:
antimetabolites
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Extavia Rate Add review
Rx C N X
Generic name:
interferon beta-1b systemic
Drug class:
interferons
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
diroximel fumarate 9.5 7 reviews for diroximel fumarate to treat Multiple Sclerosis
Rx N X
Generic name:
diroximel fumarate systemic
Brand name:
Vumerity
Drug class:
selective immunosuppressants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph
ofatumumab 6.7 60 reviews for ofatumumab to treat Multiple Sclerosis
Rx C N
Generic name:
ofatumumab systemic
Brand name:
Kesimpta
Drug class:
CD20 monoclonal antibodies, selective immunosuppressants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph
ozanimod 8.7 4 reviews for ozanimod to treat Multiple Sclerosis
Rx N
Generic name:
ozanimod systemic
Brand name:
Zeposia
Drug class:
selective immunosuppressants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph
Briumvi 9.0 6 reviews for Briumvi to treat Multiple Sclerosis
Rx N
Generic name:
ublituximab systemic
Drug class:
CD20 monoclonal antibodies
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
ublituximab 9.0 6 reviews for ublituximab to treat Multiple Sclerosis
Rx N
Generic name:
ublituximab systemic
Brand name:
Briumvi
Drug class:
CD20 monoclonal antibodies
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph

Frequently asked questions

View more FAQ

Topics under Multiple Sclerosis

Learn more about Multiple Sclerosis

Care guides

Symptoms and treatments

Medicine.com guides (external)

Legend

Rating For ratings, users were asked how effective they found the medicine while considering positive/adverse effects and ease of use (1 = not effective, 10 = most effective).
Activity Activity is based on recent site visitor activity relative to other medications in the list.
Rx Prescription only.
OTC Over-the-counter.
Rx/OTC Prescription or Over-the-counter.
Off-label This medication may not be approved by the FDA for the treatment of this condition.
EUA An Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) allows the FDA to authorize unapproved medical products or unapproved uses of approved medical products to be used in a declared public health emergency when there are no adequate, approved, and available alternatives.
Expanded Access Expanded Access is a potential pathway for a patient with a serious or immediately life-threatening disease or condition to gain access to an investigational medical product (drug, biologic, or medical device) for treatment outside of clinical trials when no comparable or satisfactory alternative therapy options are available.
Pregnancy Category
A Adequate and well-controlled studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy (and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters).
B Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
C Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
D There is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience or studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
X Studies in animals or humans have demonstrated fetal abnormalities and/or there is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience, and the risks involved in use in pregnant women clearly outweigh potential benefits.
N FDA has not classified the drug.
Controlled Substances Act (CSA) Schedule
M The drug has multiple schedules. The schedule may depend on the exact dosage form or strength of the medication.
U CSA Schedule is unknown.
N Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.
1 Has a high potential for abuse. Has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. There is a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.
2 Has a high potential for abuse. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions. Abuse may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
3 Has a potential for abuse less than those in schedules 1 and 2. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.
4 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 3. It has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 3.
5 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 4. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 4.
Alcohol
X Interacts with Alcohol.

Further information

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