Multiple Sclerosis -- Tysabri vs. Novantrone

I am wanting to get off of my Rebif shots -- the disease-modifying drug for MS. Rebif is a great drug but I just dread the shots terribly (who wouldn't?). However, I know that I need to be taking something for my MS. The other challenge that I am experiencing is that I now get pretty bad cold and flu symptoms after my shot. It is as if all of the sudden my shots are not working in harmony with my body.

My neurologist recently suggested I start on Novantrone as he has many patients that are successfully taking this instead of disease-modifying shots for the multiple sclerosis. Meanwhile I have a dear friend who is on Tysabri who swears by this MS drug. So I thought I would do a quick pro and con list for Novantrone vs. Tysabri.

Novantrone Pros:
- you take an IV once every three months
- it suppresses the activity on B cells, T cells and macrophages which lead to attacks on the myelin
- one of the only drugs for worsening relapse-remitting MS as well as more aggressive forms

Novantrone Cons:
- it is a cancer drug and therefore has some of the well known side effects.

Tysabri Pros:
- does not carry the intense/strong side effects of a cancer treatment
- equally great positive impact on current and longer term MS symptons

Tysabri Cons:
- it is a monthly infusion
- you can't take steroids with it
- my current doctor and my previous doctor would not prescribe it

Multiple Sclerosis and Novantrone

I went to a new neurologist recently for my MS. I am currently taking Rebif and I have been for three years to help with the multiple sclerosis. I asked the doctor if I should be doing anything different and what are other people similar to me doing to treat their multiple sclerosis.

He said that he has a lot of patients on Novantrone which is a chemotherapy drug used to treat cancer. The dosage is significantly smaller for multiple sclerosis patients and therefore so are the side effects. It is also the only drug that has been approved by the FDA to treat secondary progressive forms of multiple sclerosis.

I thought it was great that my new doctor suggested I look up info on Novantrone and consult a cancer doctor for their perspective (since these doctors work so much closer with the chemotherapy drugs).

I am not sure what I think yet about this drug but I am eagerly exploring it -- it may be an option for me.