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MS Decisions aid

Instructions for using the decision aid

  1. To explore your options, first select the country where you live.
  2. Select any combination of criteria using check boxes to narrow down the list of drugs displayed.
  3. Click on a drug’s name to view full details.
  4. Click on a drug's compare button to add it to a shortlist.
  5. Click on the Compare drugs button to see summaries of drugs you have selected side-by-side.
  6. Bear in mind that some drug choices may not be appropriate during the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak. Read more in our latest news. 
Search and filter

The availability of some DMDs is different for each of the UK nations. Select the nation you live in.

  • Clinically isolated syndromefirst episode of neurological symptoms
  • Active relapsing remitting MStwo relapses in the previous two years
  • Very active relapsing remitting MStwo or more relapses in the previous year and signs of MS activity on MRI scans (rapidly evolving severe)
  • Self-injectioninto muscle or under the skin. Auto-injector devices are available and full training given
  • Pillmay be tablet or capsule
  • Intravenous infusion (drip) in hospitalgenerally in outpatient clinic but some DMDs require a hospital stay
  • Dailyonce or twice a day
  • Several times a weekevery other day or three times a week
  • Weeklyonce a week
  • Fortnightlyonce every two weeks
  • Monthlyonce a month
  • Annually treatment course

Some DMDs require more frequent check-ups than others.

Use these filters if it is important how often you have to attend appointments.

Moderately effective (category 1.1)

Aubagio

Teriflunomide

Administered by Tablet

Side effects

Common side effects affecting more than 1 person in 100
(for full details see individual drug entries)
  • Hair thinning
  • Nausea and diarrhoea
  • Increased levels of liver enzymes

Select for comparison

Avonex

Interferon beta 1a

Administered by Injection

Side effects

Common side effects affecting more than 1 person in 100
(for full details see individual drug entries)
  • Flu-like symptoms
  • Injection site reactions
  • Depression
Less common but serious side effects
(for full details see individual drug entries)
  • Damage to small blood vessels leading to kidney problems
  • Liver abnormalities

 

Select for comparison

Brabio

Glatiramer acetate

Administered by Injection

Side effects

Common side effects affecting more than 1 person in 100
(for full details see individual drug entries)
  • Injection site reactions
  • Lipoatrophy (indentations in the skin)
  • Headache
  • Nausea
Less common but serious side effects
(for full details see individual drug entries)
  • Immediate post-injection reaction (IPIR)

Select for comparison

Copaxone

Glatiramer acetate

Administered by Injection

Side effects

Common side effects affecting more than 1 person in 100
(for full details see individual drug entries)
  • Injection site reactions
  • Lipoatrophy (indentations in the skin)
  • Headache
  • Nausea
Less common but serious side effects
(for full details see individual drug entries)
  • Immediate post-injection reaction (IPIR)

Select for comparison

Extavia

Interferon beta 1b

Administered by Injection

Side effects

Common side effects affecting more than 1 person in 100
(for full details see individual drug entries)
  • Flu-like symptoms
  • Injection site reactions
Less common but serious side effects
(for full details see individual drug entries)
  • Damage to small blood vessels leading to kidney problems
  • Liver abnormalities
  • Depression

Select for comparison

Plegridy

Peginterferon beta 1a

Administered by Injection

Side effects

Common side effects affecting more than 1 person in 100
(for full details see individual drug entries)
  • Flu-like symptoms
  • Injection site reactions
Less common but serious side effects
(for full details see individual drug entries)
  • Damage to small blood vessels leading to kidney problems
  • Liver abnormalities
  • Depression

Select for comparison

Rebif

Interferon beta 1a

Administered by Injection

Side effects

Common side effects affecting more than 1 person in 100
(for full details see individual drug entries)
  • Flu-like symptoms
  • Injection site reactions
Less common but serious side effects
(for full details see individual drug entries)
  • Damage to small blood vessels leading to kidney problems
  • Liver abnormalities
  • Depression

Select for comparison

More effective (category 1.2)

Gilenya

Fingolimod

Administered by Tablet

Side effects

Common side effects affecting more than 1 person in 100
(for full details see individual drug entries)
  • Cough
  • Headache
  • Back pain
  • Diarrhoea
  • Increased risk of infection
  • Decrease in white blood cells
  • Increased levels of liver enzymes
  • Basal cell carcinoma
Less common but serious side effects
(for full details see individual drug entries)
  • Swelling in the back of eye (macular oedema)
  • Increased risk of serious infection
  • Brain infection (PML)

Select for comparison

Mavenclad

Cladribine

Administered by Tablet

Side effects

Common side effects affecting more than 1 person in 100
(for full details see individual drug entries)
  • Decrease in white blood cells
  • Herpes virus infections
Less common but serious side effects
(for full details see individual drug entries)
  • Reactivation of tuberculosis

Select for comparison

Ponvory

Ponesimod

Administered by Tablet

Side effects

Common side effects affecting more than 1 person in 100
(for full details see individual drug entries)
  • Infections including cough, colds and chest and urinary tract infections
  • Herpes zoster (shingles)
  • Swelling in the back of the eye (macular oedema)
  • Low levels of white blood cells (lymphopenia)
  • High blood pressure
  • Increased levels of liver enzymes
Less common but serious side effects
(for full details see individual drug entries)
  • Skin cancer

Select for comparison

Tecfidera

Dimethyl fumarate

Administered by Tablet

Side effects

Common side effects affecting more than 1 person in 100
(for full details see individual drug entries)
  • Flushing
  • Gastrointestinal upset
  • Decrease in white blood cells
  • Rash
  • Increased levels of liver enzymes
Less common but serious side effects
(for full details see individual drug entries)
  • Brain infection (PML)

Select for comparison

Highly effective (category 2.0)

Kesimpta

Ofatumumab

Administered by Injection

Side effects

Common side effects affecting more than 1 person in 100
(for full details see individual drug entries)
  • injection-site reactions (redness, pain, itching and swelling at injection site)
  • injection-related reactions (fever, headache, muscle pain, chills and tiredness)
  • infections including coughs, colds, chest infections and cold sores (oral herpes)

Select for comparison

Lemtrada

Alemtuzumab

Administered by Infusion

Side effects

Common side effects affecting more than 1 person in 100
(for full details see individual drug entries)
  • Infusion associated reactions
  • Increased risk of Infection
  • Overactive or underactive thyroid gland
Less common but serious side effects
(for full details see individual drug entries)
  • Thyroid disorders
  • Kidney problems
  • Blood clotting disorder (ITP)
  • Cardiovascular problems
  • Autoimmune conditions

Select for comparison

Ocrevus

Ocrelizumab

Administered by Infusion

Side effects

Common side effects affecting more than 1 person in 100
(for full details see individual drug entries)
  • infusion associated reactions
  • chest infections
  • herpes infection (cold sore or shingles)
  • infection of the stomach and bowel (gastroenteritis)
  • viral infections
  • skin infection (cellulitis)

Select for comparison

Tysabri

Natalizumab

Administered by Infusion

Side effects

Common side effects affecting more than 1 person in 100
(for full details see individual drug entries)
  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Urticaria (skin rash)
  • Increased risk of infection
Less common but serious side effects
(for full details see individual drug entries)
  • Brain infection (PML)

Select for comparison

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