Tysabri for secondary progressive ms
Common Questions and Answers about Tysabri for secondary progressive ms
tysabri
Secondary Progressive MS is the eventual landing spot for 85% of people diagnosed with RRMS. I am among them. In fact, as SPMS was my initial diagnosis, I had it before I ever new I'd had RRMS :-) The way I see it, SPMS is just a label. How I feel is much more important!
A significant number of people with Relapsing/remitting MS move on to Secondary progressive MS. In secondary progressive MS there are less likely to be relapses. There is a steady advancing of the disease. In my case, thankfully, the advancing is taking its sweet time :-)
The other 2 types of MS are progressive relapsing and primary progressive. These are distinct types of MS. They occur less frequently and tend to be more severe.
My initial diagnosis was Secondary Progressive MS. When I was idagnosed 3 1/2 years ago my doc though I was already beyond the reach of the CRAB's. My first DMD as Tysabri. I was on it for 20 months before it stopped working. I then switched to Rituxan.
Tecfidera is "stronger" than the CRAB's, but not as strong as Tysabri. I'm not sure here Aubagio and Gilenya fit on the strength scale, but I would ask your neuro about them. They are both oral meds.
Hi Grewy -
For me, Secondary Progressive MS (SMSP) is just a label. What matters is how you are doing. My initial diagnosis was SPMS. I had a major relapse in July of 2011. Prior to that MS was not something I'd ever thought about.
We did a little health/symptom archeology and it turns out my first relapse had been 20 years before. I was not suffering in the intervening years, nor was I looking for any kind of diagnosis.
I still get up everyday and go to work.
Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with your doctor.
Without the ability to obtain a history from you and examine you, I can not make recommendations regarding treatment with rituximab or any other medication.
into the progressive phase of RRMS, which is Secondary Progressive MS. What this means for you is that you started out at some point - maybe those symptoms 20 years ago that the neurologist found in taking the history - with Relapsing Remitting type.
But, then as the RRMS progressed, it turned into a more steadily Progressive type where you just see steady worsening. None of your symptoms ever go away and little by little, new ones show up.
Fingolimod (Gilenya) and Mitoxantrone are very different therapies, the latter more common as a treatment for secondary progressive MS. Gilenya is prescribed for relapsing-remitting MS. From your limited description of current symptoms, with no historical perspective, I would guess your sister is secondary progressive. But it's only a guess. Perhaps that's why the four earlier treatments failed, because they are for relapsing-remitting.
I was diagnosed with MS October 2005. My diagnosis was proven through a lumbar puncture, visual evoked potential eye exam and other types of testing. I am positive, and my Neurologist concurs, that I've suffered with this disease for over 15 years. My primary care physician told me all those years that I had Fibromyalgia (she still says I likely have it along with the MS).
By the time I figured out that I have MS, mine had moved from RRMS to secondary progressive MS. This means I may still have relapses, but some of my symptoms are around for keeps.
Were you told what flavor yours is?
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