There are many treatments available for MS, many of which can help decrease the frequency and severity of relapses, improve physical function, and ease symptoms caused by the condition.

While there’s no cure for multiple sclerosis (MS), there are many treatments available. These treatments mainly focus on slowing down the progression of the disease and managing symptoms.

Different people can have different types of MS, and disease progression and symptoms range greatly from person to person. For both reasons, each person’s treatment plan will be different.

Read on to learn about the types of MS treatments available.

Disease-modifying medications can reduce the frequency and severity of MS episodes, or relapses. They also can reduce the number and size of lesions (damage to nerve fibers) and reduce symptoms.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has currently approved several drugs for modifying MS. They’re available as:

Injectables

The following medications are given as injections:

  • interferon beta-1a (Avonex, Rebif)
  • interferon beta-1b (Betaseron, Extavia)
  • glatiramer acetate (Copaxone, generic versions such as Glatopa)
  • pegylated interferon beta-1a (Plegridy)
  • ofatumumab (Kesimpta)

In 2018, the manufacturers of the injection daclizumab (Zinbryta) withdrew it from the market due to safety concerns.

Infusions

The following therapies must be given by infusion at a licensed medical facility:

  • alemtuzumab (Lemtrada)
  • mitoxantrone (Novantrone)
  • natalizumab (Tysabri)
  • ocrelizumab (Ocrevus)

Oral treatments

These treatments are pills taken by mouth:

The following treatments are capsules taken by mouth:

  • ozanimod (Zeposia)
  • diroximel fumarate (Vumerity)
  • monomethyl fumarate (Bafiertam)

Stem cells have shown some promise in treating the neural damage that MS causes.

Research on stem cells in MS has included test-tube studies, animal research, and some human studies. There are also a variety of ways that stem cells are used in the treatment of MS, such as bone marrow transplants.

According to one research review, mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy has shown to help repair the central nervous system (CNS), which becomes damaged with MS.

The process by which stem cells work to do this is not fully understood, but studies are ongoing to determine more about the curative abilities of stem cell therapy.

Diet

While there isn’t any research supporting one specific diet for MS, eating a generally nutrient-rich, balanced diet is recommended.

Exercise

Staying active is critical to addressing MS symptoms and maintaining quality of life. Exercise helps:

  • improve muscle strength
  • increase cardiovascular health
  • improve mood
  • improve cognitive function

A good way to start your MS exercise routine is to try basic stretches while you’re sitting or in bed. When you feel comfortable with those exercises, add more demanding exercises such as:

  • walking
  • swimming
  • dancing
  • yoga
  • resistance training
  • aerobic exercise

As you get stronger and more comfortable exercising, you can modify and build on your exercise program.

Keep in mind that spending time with people you enjoy can help improve your mood. Exercising with others might be a good way to stay social.

Additionally, be sure to talk to a doctor or physical therapist before starting any exercise program.

Not only can they provide recommendations for which activities may be safe and beneficial, but they can also offer suggestions for how to modify or adapt exercise routines as needed.

Physical therapy

People with MS often experience fatigue. And when you’re tired, you may not feel like exercising.

But the less exercise you get, the more tired you may feel. That’s another reason why exercise, including physical therapy (PT), is so important.

It’s important to know that exercise needs to be carefully tailored for people with MS. Things such as keeping session times short and increasing exercise over time are important factors.

If you’ve experienced a change in coordination, strength, or energy levels during a relapse, you may want to consider PT.

The goal of PT during relapse is to prevent muscle contractions and atrophy, or loss of your muscle tissue, due to immobility.

In cases where a relapse causes severe weakness, passive muscle movements may also be necessary. This involves the physical therapist moving your arms, legs, or other parts of the body if you’re unable to move them yourself.

A professional PT program can help improve your strength, physical function, and balance.

Ending a relapse as quickly as possible benefits both your body and the mind. That’s where relapse treatments come in.

Corticosteroids

Inflammation is a key feature of MS relapses. It can lead to many other symptoms of MS, such as:

  • fatigue
  • weakness
  • pain

Corticosteroids are often used to ease inflammation and reduce the severity of MS attacks.

Corticosteroids used to treat MS include methylprednisolone (intravenous) and prednisone.

Other treatments

Other treatments that are sometimes used during a relapse may include:

  • ACTH (H.P. Acthar Gel): ACTH is an injection into your muscle or under your skin. It works by prompting the adrenal cortex gland to secrete the hormones cortisol, corticosterone, and aldosterone. These hormones help reduce the level of inflammation in your body.
  • Plasmapheresis: This process involves removing whole blood from your body and filtering it to remove antibodies that may be attacking your nervous system. The “cleansed” blood is then returned to you through a transfusion.
  • Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG): This treatment is an injection that helps modify abnormal inflammation mediated by the immune system. However, evidence of its benefits for MS relapses has been inconsistent in clinical studies.

While the drugs listed above help treat MS, a range of medications are available to treat the different physical symptoms that MS can cause.

Drugs for pain and other muscle problems

Muscle relaxants are often prescribed for people with MS. That’s because relaxing muscles helps with common MS symptoms such as:

  • pain
  • muscle spasms
  • fatigue

Relieving those symptoms can also help with depression, which can occur with MS.

Drugs for muscle stiffness include:

  • baclofen (Lioresal)
  • cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril)
  • diazepam (Valium)
  • tizanidine (Zanaflex)

Drugs for fatigue

Fatigue is a common symptom for people with MS.

Drugs used to treat fatigue include modafinil (Provigil). They also include amantadine hydrochloride (Gocovri) and amphetamine-dextroamphetamine (Adderall), which is used off-label for this purpose. Off-label use is when a drug that’s approved for one purpose is used for another.

Fluoxetine (Prozac) is also often prescribed since it helps address both fatigue and depression.

Drugs for bladder and bowel problems

There are more than a dozen prescription medications for bladder problems, such as incontinence, related to MS. Talk with your doctor about which drugs might be best for you.

Over-the-counter stool softeners are often recommended to help ease constipation and bowel symptoms associated with MS. If you have questions about these products, consider consulting your doctor or pharmacist.

Though MS treatments can be helpful in managing the condition, they can also cause side effects. In general, some MS drugs can cause common side effects such as:

  • nausea
  • headaches
  • increased risk of infections
  • flu-like symptoms related to infections

Coping with MS can present challenges, but treatment can make a big difference in how you feel, both physically and emotionally.

Work with your doctor to develop a treatment plan that addresses your medical issues and can help improve your physical symptoms and emotional outlook.

Read this article in Spanish.