MS Active Source

Treatment

• Introduction
• Introduction to MS
• MS treatments
  • Intro to MS treatments
  • Interferons
  • Avonex
  • Betaferon
  • Rebif
  • Glatiramer acetate
  • Copaxone
  • Natalizumab
  • Tysabri
  • Treatment of relapses
  • Risk-sharing scheme
  • Progressive MS
• Positive approach
• Newly diagnosed?
• Relative with MS
• Links
• Principles of treatment

Principles of Treating Multiple Sclerosis

Expert guidelines recommend that the treatment of MS should be approached in four different ways. Each of these approaches may be undertaken separately or in combination:

1. Management of symptoms and disability with:

• speech therapy, physiotherapy and occupational therapy.
• pharmacological or other therapeutic agents.

2. Management of the emotional and social consequences of relapses and
    disability.

3. Treatment of acute relapses with corticosteroids.

4. Treatment with glatiramer acetate aimed at:

• reducing the severity and/or frequency of relapses.

5. Treatment with beta interferons and natalizumab aimed at:

• reducing the severity and/or frequency of relapses.
• slowing the course of the disease.

At present, beta interferons, glatiramer acetate and natalizumab are the only disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) licensed for option 4 and 5 (refT1, refT4). Treatment of MS with DMTs and other agents is discussed elsewhere in this section of MS Active Source. The rest of this page looks briefly at other ways to manage common MS symptoms.

There are many possible symptoms in MS. 

These include symptoms involving problems with movement (e.g. balance/coordination) and muscles (e.g. incontinence, fatigue, loss of muscle strength) or sensory problems (e.g. pain, loss of sensation) require attention from the appropriate therapist or specialist.

A sudden increase in disability, or an increase in dependence on others, often requires referral to a specialist neurological service for assessment.

Depression is a common complaint in MS. Possible factors contributing to depression, including chronic pain, social isolation and psychological problems such as anxiety, need to be assessed and if possible eliminated or reduced. It is unclear whether depression in MS (as influenced by these specific factors) is different from depression in other people. Antidepressant medication or cognitive therapy may be used as part of a depression management programme.

People with MS may suffer from emotionalism. Anyone with MS who appears to have little control over their emotions may require assistance and guidance from the appropriate healthcare professional. An antidepressant medication may also be required.

A Pathway Through MS: Understanding and Treating your MS

This is a DVD programme that has been developed to help people with MS better understand their condition and their treatment options. Separate sections of this DVD appear elsewhere in this website.

This section of the video focuses on injection and treatment-related side effects and includes advice on how to deal with them. It is divided into three sections: Injection Site Reactions; Treatment-Related Side-Effects; and Relapses.

Quick Links

• Treatment rights
• Your questions
• Glossary
• Making the most of treatment
• Newly diagnosed

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