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Home >> Multiple Sclerosis >> Treating MS

Treating MS

The first step in treating MS effectively is to learn as much as possible about the illness. This way, you can start to build a picture of the changes that may take place in both the short and long-term, so you can establish a realistic picture of your lifestyle today, and later on.

Medical experts generally agree that it is important to treat MS with the most effective therapy as soon as the illness has been diagnosed and confirmed.

What are the aims of treating MS with drugs?

The aims of drug treatment with the current means available are:

  • Rapid remission of the acute symptoms of the disease and an extension of the period without disturbances before the next episode. In addition, a change should be effected in the course of the illness in that its advance and any impairment are slowed down and the frequency and severity of the attacks are reduced.
  • Another aim is the treatment of special symptoms independently of the development of the disease.

The importance of early treatment

Many people with MS ask why they should start treatment immediately, especially if their symptoms are currently in check and they are generally feeling well and in good health.

This is understandable, and under these circumstances it is hardly surprising that many people with MS hesitate to take any medication - after all, treatment is a long-term commitment that needs to be sustained and supported by professional medical support.

However, there is good evidence to support the need for early treatment. For example, medical experts now know that damage to the nerves and brain occurs very early on in the disease process. Since this damage is often silent, it can take years for symptoms to fully develop, so starting early treatment may minimise the nerve and brain damage and thus delay the progression of the disease.

Medical experts generally agree that it is important to treat MS with DMDs (Disease Modifying Drugs) as soon as the illness has been diagnosed and confirmed, for the following reasons:

  • Treatment helps to remove the acute symptoms of the disease, or to achieve remission
  • Treatment can extend the periods of time without disturbances before another possible attack
  • Effective treatment can bring about a change in the course of the illness, thus slowing the advance of MS, slowing impairment and reducing the frequency and severity of attacks.

The goal of treatment should be to slow irreversible damage to oligodendrocytes and axons, thus slowing the progression of the disease to secondary progressive MS. Treatment with disease-modifying agents, such as beta interferon-1a, taken at the start of the disease prevents inflammatory processes that may lead to demyelination and axon damage.

Available therapies

Although Multiple Sclerosis (MS) still has no cure, effective drug-based treatments do exist. The drugs used in treating MS can be divided into three groups:

  • Drugs that treat an acute attack alleviate symptoms but neither change the mechanisms behind MS nor the course of the disease; these drugs are usually referred to as corticosteroids, which are a form of steroids.
  • Drugs that alter the course of the disease by relieving the effects on disordered immune processes. Immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive drugs fall into this category. These act by reducing the immune system cell activity responsible for the body attacking the central nervous system.
  • Drugs to treat specific symptoms - this is known as symptomatic therapy.

For more information on the treatment options available and how the disease can be managed, contact your local healthcare provider. You can also visit www.ms-network.com

When Should I Start Treatment?

It has been shown that damage begins very  early in the course of MS and leads to increasing and irreversible damage and disability. Clinical evidence has shown that disease-modifying therapies (DMT)  can help prevent attacks and delay disability. For these reasons, most experts agree that people diagnosed with MS should begin treatment as early as possible in the course of their disease.

Those who begin treatment as early as possible and remain on treatment can minimize the risk of disability and increase their chances of maintaining a more normal and healthy lifestyle. By understanding MS, you can be more active in managing your health and your MS. The key to feeling in control of your treatment, your MS and your life is by being an active partner in your own care.



This quick guide is supported by Merck Serono.