What Are the Treatments for Secondary Progressive MS?

Secondary-progressive MS (SPMS) is one of four disease courses in multiple sclerosis. While the cure for MS remains on the horizon, as of early 2010, approved Secondary-Progressive MS (SPMS) treatments have had success slowing the progression of disability caused by damage to the mylan sheath, the protective covering of the nerves.

Interferon

• The two types of interferon pharmaceutical treatments are beta 1-a (Avonex and Rebif) and beta-1b (Beteseron and Extavia). Depending on the name brand, the injections vary in frequency, from weekly to several times a week, and are self-injected either under the skin or into the muscle.

Glatiramer

• Glatimamer (Capaxone) is a daily self-injection under the skin. Patients report relatively mild side effects, from a rash to redness and swelling at the injection site.

Mitoxantrone

• Initially used to treat certain cancers, mitoxantrone (Novantrone) is the only drug treatment approved specifically for SPMS. This treatment is given intravenously (IV) by a health care professional at home or at a doctor's office, once every three months, with a limit of eight to 12 treatments over a two- to three-year period.

Natalizumab

• Administered intravenously, natalizumab (Tysabri), is given once every four weeks. Special precautions are in place due to the possible fatal side-effect of PML: abrain infection. The FDA required Biogen, the maker of Tysabri, to institute a program--since named TOUCH--for the safe distribution and administration of the drug.

Steroids

• When an MS flare-up, or exacerbation, occurs due to inflammation of the nerve fibers, a corticosteroid treatment is often prescribed to help reduce both the severity of the symptoms and the length of time the flare-up lasts. Steroid treatments in pill form, such as Prednisone, are self-administered at home. More severe symptoms may require that steroids, such as Solu-Medrol or Decadron, are administered intravenously (IV).