Twenty years ago, there were absolutely no treatments available for multiple sclerosis. The outlook for those diagnosed was grim. Fast forward to 2015 and there are now, thankfully, twelve disease modifying drugs available to treat the relapsing form of MS, and much research is being done in the hopes of finding more and better treatment options for all forms of MS (and hopefully a cure!). Here’s a breakdown of all 12 disease-modifying drugs for MS that are available today.
Brand Name: Aubagio
Chemical Name: Teriflunomide
Manufacturer: Genzyme, a Sanofi Company
Date Approved by the FDA: September, 2012
Dosage(s), Administration, and Proper Usage: 7-milligrams (mg) or 14-mg tablets taken orally (by mouth) once a day
How it Works: Aubagio is an immunomodulator (something that suppresses the activity of the immune system), which inhibits dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, an enzyme involved in pyrimidine (a component of DNA) production. Though the exact mechanism of action is unknown, the end result is decreased proliferation of the T cells and B cells responsible for damage to the central nervous system in MS.
Precautions:
- Do not take Aubagio if you have any history of liver disease, are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, or are taking a medication called leflunomide (Arava).
- Because Aubagio is a pregnancy category X drug (meaning it can cause birth defects), both males and females should use an effective means of birth control while taking Aubagio.
- Aubagio can stay in your bloodstream for up to two years after you stop taking it, but your doctors can give you a medication to remove it from your body quickly if necessary.
- Tell your doctor if you have any history of high blood pressure, diabetes, liver or kidney disease, breathing problems, or skin problems.
- Your doctor will monitor your blood work and blood pressure frequently while you are on this medication. Use Aubagio cautiously if you’re also taking Warfarin or Rosuvastatin.
Most Common Side Effects:
- Hair thinning or loss
- Headache
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
Serious Side Effects:
- Reduced white blood cell count
- Liver injury
- Neuropathy (numbness or tingling in your hands and feet that is not caused by MS)
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome
- Kidney problems
- High potassium levels in the blood
- Skin problems
- Breathing problems
- High blood pressure
Resources: For a complete list of side effects and clinical trial results, see the prescribing information.
Patient Support/Financial Assistance: Check out MS One to One or call them at 1-855-676-6326
Brand Name: Avonex
Chemical Name: Interferon beta-1a
Manufacturer: Biogen Idec
Date Approved by the FDA: February, 2012
Dosage(s), Administration, and Proper Usage:
- 30 micrograms (mcg) in 0.5 milliliters (ml) of saline solution (salt water that has the same sodium content as the blood), injected once a week.
- Avonex is injected intramuscularly (into the muscle).
- It can be self-injected, or injected using the Avonex Pen auto-injector. It is available as a liquid in a prefilled syringe, or as a powder in a single-use vial, to be mixed (reconstituted) with the saline solution.
- Refrigerate the medication, and avoid exposure to extremes in temperature.
- Take medication out of the refrigerator and allow it to warm to room temperature before injecting. Avonex can be stored at room temperature for up to seven days.
- When you first start taking Avonex, you may be titrated onto the full dose slowly in order to decrease flu-like symptoms associated with injections.
- Analgesics and/or antipyretics (such as Tylenol, Aleve, and Advil) can be used to alleviate flu-like symptoms on injection days if needed.
How it Works: Interferons are naturally occurring proteins that are produced by the immune system in response to insult or infection. There are several classes of interferons, including alpha and beta. Interferon medications resemble these naturally occurring interferons and are used to treat a variety of diseases such as viral infections and cancer. Additionally, interferon beta medications, such as Avonex, have been shown to slow the progression of multiple sclerosis.
Precautions:
- Tell your doctor if you have a history of depression, seizures, heart disease, thyroid problems, anemia, or liver disease.
- Avonex should not be used by pregnant women or women who are trying to become pregnant. Use an effective means of birth control while taking Avonex.
- Do not use Avonex if you have an allergy to interferon beta or albumin.
- Use interferon beta medications with caution if you have a seizure disorder as they have been associated with seizure activity.
Most Common Side Effects:
- Flu-like symptoms after injection (fatigue, chills, fever, muscle aches, sweating)
Serious Side Effects:
- Depression
- Liver injury
- Congestive Heart Failure
- Reduced white blood cell count
- Allergic reactions
- Autoimmune disorders
Resources: For a complete list of side effects and clinical trial results, see the prescribing information.
Patient Support/Financial Assistance: Above MS, 1-800-456-2255
Brand Name: Betaseron
Chemical Name: Interferon beta-1b
Manufacturer: Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Date Approved by the FDA: July, 1993
Dosage(s), Administration, and Proper Usage:
- 0.25 mg of medication in 1 ml of solution, injected every other day.
- Betaseron is self-injected subcutaneously (into the fatty layer just underneath the skin).
- Available in prefilled, individual-dose syringes or in powder form in a single-use vial to be mixed with saline solution.
- When you first start Betaseron, you may be titrated slowly onto the full dose in order to decrease flu-like symptoms associated with injections.
- Analgesics and/or antipyretics (such as Tylenol, Aleve, or Advil) can be used to alleviate flu-like symptoms on injection days if needed.
How it Works: Interferons are naturally occurring proteins that are produced by the immune system in response to insult or infection. There are several classes of interferons, including alpha and beta. Interferon medications resemble these naturally occurring interferons and are used to treat a variety of diseases such as viral infections and cancer. Interferon beta medications, such as Betaseron, have also been shown to slow the progression of multiple sclerosis.
Precautions:
- Tell your doctor if you have a history of depression, seizures, heart disease, thyroid problems, anemia, or liver disease.
- Do not use if you have an allergy to other interferon beta medications, albumin, or mannitol.
- Betaseron should not be used in pregnant women or women who are trying to become pregnant. Use an effective means of birth control while taking Betaseron.
- Use interferon beta medications with caution if you have a seizure disorder as they have been associated with seizure activity.
Most Common Side Effects:
- Flu-like symptoms after injection (fatigue, chills, fever, muscle aches, sweating)
- Injection site reactions (swelling, redness, discoloration, and pain)
- Headaches or migraines
- Insomnia
- Rash
- Abdominal pain
Serious Side Effects:
- Depression
- Liver injury
- Congestive Heart Failure
- Reduced white blood cell count
- Allergic reactions
Resources: For a complete list of side effects and clinical trial results, see the prescribing information.
Patient Support/Financial Assistance: BETAPLUS, 1-800-788-1467 and Patient Assistance NOW, 1-800-245-5356
Brand Name: Copaxone
Chemical Name: Glatiramer acetate
Manufacturer: Teva Neuroscience
Date Approved by the FDA: 20 mg/ml daily approved in 1996; 40 mg/ml three times weekly approved in January, 2014
Dosage(s), Availability, and Proper Usage:
- 20 mg/ml injected daily, or 40 mg/ml injected three times a week.
- Copaxone is injected subcutaneously (into the fatty layer just underneath the skin).
- Available in prefilled, individual-dose syringes.
- Copaxone prefilled syringes should be stored in the refrigerator, and brought to room temperature prior to injection. Copaxone may be safely stored at room temperature for up to 30 days.
- Before injecting Copaxone, allow the medication to warm to room temperature.
- Do not expose medication to sunlight, or extreme temperatures.
- The medication should be clear, if it appears cloudy or has any visible particles do not use it.
How it Works: Copaxone is a synthetic protein that simulates myelin basic protein, a component of the myelin coating around nerves. Copaxone blocks T-cell destruction of myelin through a mechanism that is not well understood, but it has been shown to reduce the relapse rate and progression of relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS).
Precautions:
- Copaxone is a pregnancy category B drug, meaning that it has not been found to have adverse effects on pregnancy in animals, but no studies have been done on its safety in humans. If you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are currently breastfeeding, discuss the risks and benefits of using Copaxone with your doctor.
- Do not use Copaxone if you are allergic to glatiramer acetate or mannitol.
Most Common Side Effects:
- Injection site reactions
Serious Side Effects:
- Allergic reaction
- Chest pain
- Difficulty breathing
Resources: For a complete list of side effects and clinical trial results, see the prescribing information.
Patient Support/Financial Assistance: Shared Solutions, 1-800-887-8100
Brand Name: Extavia
Chemical Name: Interferon beta-1b
Manufacturer: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp.
Date Approved by the FDA: August 2009
Dosage(s), Availability, and Proper Usage:
- 0.25 mg of medication mixed with 1 ml of saline solution, injected every other day.
- Extavia is injected subcutaneously (into the fatty layer just underneath the skin).
- The prefilled syringes contain 1ml of solution, and the powder, single-use vials are reconstituted with 1.2 ml of solution (the small extra amount is to compensate for the few drops that get trapped in the needle during the reconstituting process).
- Once reconstituted, use immediately, or refrigerate and use within three hours.
- When you first start Extavia, you may be titrated onto the full dose slowly in order to decrease flu-like symptoms associated with injections.
- Analgesics and/or antipyretics (such as Tylenol, Aleve, or Advil) can be used to alleviate flu-like symptoms on injection days if needed.
How it Works: Interferons are naturally occurring proteins that are produced by the immune system in response to insult or infection. There are several classes of interferons, including alpha and beta. Interferon medications resemble these naturally occurring interferons and are used to treat a variety of diseases such as viral infections and cancer. Interferon beta medications, such as Extavia, have also been shown to slow the progression of multiple sclerosis.
Precautions:
- Tell your doctor if you have a history of depression, seizures, heart disease, thyroid problems, anemia, or liver disease.
- Do not use if you have an allergy to other interferon beta medications, albumin, or mannitol.
- Extavia should not be used in pregnant women or women who are trying to become pregnant. Use an effective means of birth control while taking Extavia.
- Use interferon beta medications with caution if you have a seizure disorder as they have been associated with seizure activity.
Most Common Side Effects:
- Flu-like symptoms after injection (fatigue, chills, fever, muscle aches, sweating)
- Injection site reactions (swelling, redness, discoloration, and pain)
- Headaches
- Insomnia
- Abdominal pain
Serious Side Effects:
- Depression
- Liver injury
- Congestive Heart Failure
- Reduced white blood cell count
- Allergic reactions
Resources: For a complete list of side effects and clinical trial results, see the prescribing information.
Patient Support/Financial Assistance: Extavia Go Program, 1-866-925-2333. Patient Assistance NOW, 1-800-245-5356
Brand Name: Gilenya
Chemical Name: Fingolimod
Manufacturer: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp.
Date Approved by the FDA: September, 2010
Dosage(s), Availability, and Proper Usage:
- 0.5 mg capsule taken orally every day.
- Store medication in a dry place at room temperature.
- Because of the possibility of a decreased heart rate (bradycardia) with the first dose of Gilenya, the first dose must be taken under the supervision of a doctor. You will be monitored for six hours after taking the first dose.
- If you stop taking Gilenya for over two weeks, you will have to repeat the first dose observation process.
Precautions:
- Blood work, an eye exam, and an ECG is required before starting Gilenya.
- Tell your doctor if you have a history of heart disease, abnormal heart rhythms, heart attack, high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes, breathing problems, liver disease, or stroke.
- Avoid live vaccines while on and for two months after stopping Gilenya. It is advisable to receive the chicken pox vaccine and have a TB skin test before beginning Gilenya.
- Gilenya should not be used in pregnant women or women who are trying to become pregnant. Use an effective means of birth control while taking Gilenya.
- Use with caution if you are taking the medication Ketoconazole, or certain types of cardiac medications.
How it Works: The active ingredient of Gilenya, fingolimod, gets broken down and is used by the body to reduce the number of immune cells called lymphocytes by trapping them in the lymph nodes. Subsequently fewer lymphocytes are able to migrate into the central nervous system, reducing the accumulation of new MS-related damage.
Most Common Side Effects:
- Headache
- Influenza
- Diarrhea
- Back pain
- Cough
Serious Side Effects:
- Increased risk for infections
- Macular edema
- Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES)
- Shortness of breath
- Liver injury
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
Resources: For a complete list of side effects and clinical trial results, see the prescribing information.
Patient Support/Financial Assistance: Gilenya.com, Patient Assistance NOW or call 1-800-245-5356
Brand Name: Lemtrada
Chemical Name: alemtuzumab
Manufacturer: Genzyme, a Sanofi Company
Date Approved by the FDA: November, 2014
Dosage(s), Availability, and Proper Usage: Lemtrada is an IV infusion given in two courses, one year apart.
First course: 12 mg/day for five consecutive days.
Second course: 12 mg/day for three consecutive days 12 months after the first treatment course.
- Three days of corticosteroids should be given prior to each treatment course.
- As a prophylaxis, antiviral drugs should be taken on the first day of Lemtrada and continued for at least two months after completing each treatment course.
- Each infusion of Lemtrada takes four hours to complete.
How it Works: Though the exact mechanism by which Lemtrada works is unknown, it is thought to bind to CD52, a component of T and B cells, natural killer cells, monocytes, and macrophages. After it binds to CD52, Lemtrada kills these immune cells so that they are unable to cross into the central nervous system and cause MS related damage to myelin.
Precautions:
- Because of the risk of life-threatening allergic reactions, patients must be monitored for two hours following their infusion.
- Lemtrada is a restricted medication and can only be prescribed by participating physicians through a restricted distribution program.
- Because of the risk of severe side effects associated with Lemtrada, it should only be used for patients who have had an inadequate response to two or more MS treatments.
- Lemtrada should not be used in pregnant women or women who are trying to become pregnant. Use an effective means of birth control while taking Lemtrada.
- Avoid live vaccines while on Lemtrada. It is advisable to receive the chicken pox vaccine at least six weeks prior to starting Lemtrada if you are a candidate for the vaccine.
Most Common Side Effects:
- Rash
- Headache
- Fever
- Nausea/vomiting
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Back pain
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Abdominal pain
- Numbness, tingling, or pain in extremities
- Nasal congestion
Serious Side Effects:
- Serious, sometimes fatal autoimmune conditions
- Severe allergic reactions
- Malignancies including thyroid cancer, melanoma, and lymphoproliferative disorders.
- Thyroid disorders
- Infections
Resources: For a complete list of side effects and clinical trial results, see the prescribing information.
Patient Support/Financial Assistance: Lemtrada.com, MS One2One, 1-855-676-6326
Brand Name: Novantrone
Chemical Name: Mitoxantrone
Manufacturer: Immunex, now Amgen
Date Approved by the FDA: October, 2000
Dosage(s), Availability, and Proper Usage:
- 12 mg/m2 IV infusion given over 5-15 minutes. (M2 is a unit of measurement that accounts for the individual’s weight, so dosages will vary from person to person).
- Because of the risk of cardiac damage, the lifetime cumulative dose is limited to 140 mg/m2 (equal to approximately 8-12 doses over 2-3 years, based on the person’s weight).
- Available in generic form.
- FDA approved for use in secondary progressive, progressive relapsing, and worsening relapsing-remitting MS.
How it Works: Novantrone is a low-dose chemotherapeutic (anti-cancer) medication that damages the DNA and RNA of cells, and kills a range of human cells. In MS patients, Novantrone inhibits B cell, T cell, and macrophage proliferation, which cuts down on the number of immune cells that enter the central nervous system.
Precautions:
- Tell your doctor if you have a history of liver disease, heart disease and/or a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, or have ever been on chemotherapy.
- Do not take any live vaccine while on Novantrone.
- Call your doctor if you have any signs or symptoms of an infection such as fever, chills, cough, lower back/side pain, or pain when urinating.
- Novantrone is dark blue in color, and may cause your urine to be blue-green for up to 24 hours after your infusion. The whites of your eyes may also have a bluish tinge for a short period of time.
- Novantrone may cause birth defects if either the male or female is taking the drug at the time of conception so both males and females should use an effective means of birth control while on Novantrone.
- Do not breastfeed while taking Novantrone.
Most Common Side Effects:
- Nausea
- Abnormal menstrual cycle
- Temporary hair loss
- Nasal congestion
Serious Side Effects:
- Infection
- Decreased white blood cell count
- Liver injury
- Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), a type of blood cancer
- Cardiotoxicity/congestive heart failure
- Anemia
Resources: For a complete list of side effects and clinical trial results, see the prescribing information.
Brand Name: Plegridy
Chemical Name: Peginterferon beta-1a
Manufacturer: Biogen Idec
Date Approved by the FDA: August, 2014
Dosage(s), Availability, and Proper Usage:
- 125 mcg in 0.5 ml of saline solution, injected every 14 days.
- Plegridy is injected subcutaneously (into the fatty layer just underneath the skin).
- Available in prefilled individually dosed syringes.
- Plegridy prefilled syringes should be stored in the refrigerator, and brought to room temperature prior to injection. They may be safely stored at room temperature for up to 30 days.
- Before injecting Plegridy, allow the medication to warm to room temperature.
- Do not expose medication to sunlight, or extreme temperatures.
- When you first start Plegridy you may be titrated slowly onto the full dose in order to decrease flu-like symptoms associated with injections.
- Analgesics and/or antipyretics (such as Tylenol, Aleve, or Advil) can be used to alleviate flu-like symptoms on injection days if needed.
How it Works: Interferons are naturally occurring proteins that are produced by the immune system in response to insult or infection. There are several classes of interferons, including alpha and beta. Interferon medications resemble these naturally occurring interferons and are used to treat a variety of diseases such as viral infections and cancer. Interferon beta medications, such as Plegridy, have also been shown to slow the progression of multiple sclerosis. Plegridy is a pegylated interferon, meaning it has an extra molecule that allows it to stay in the body longer. Because it is long acting, it only has to be given once every 14 days.
Precautions:
- Tell your doctor if you have a history of depression, seizures, heart disease, thyroid problems, anemia, or liver disease.
- Do not use if you have an allergy to other interferon beta medications or pegylated interferon.
- Plegridy should not be used in pregnant women or women who are trying to become pregnant. Use an effective means of birth control while taking Plegridy.
- Use interferon beta medications with caution if you have a seizure disorder as they have been associated with seizure activity.
Most Common Side Effects:
- Flu-like symptoms after injection (fatigue, chills, fever, muscle aches, sweating)
- Injection site reactions (swelling, redness, discoloration, and pain)
Serious Side Effects:
- Depression
- Liver injury
- Congestive Heart Failure
- Reduced white blood cell and platelet count
- Allergic reactions
- Autoimmune disease
- Infection
- Anemia and/or bleeding
- Seizures
Resources: For a complete list of side effects and clinical trial results, see the prescribing information.
Patient Support/Financial Assistance: Plegridy.com, MS ActiveSource, 1-800-456-2255
Brand Name: Rebif
Chemical Name: Interferon beta-1a
Manufacturer: EMD Serono, Inc.
Date Approved by the FDA: March, 2002
Dosage(s), Availability, and Proper Usage:
- 22 mcg or 44 mcg three times a week.
- Rebif is injected subcutaneously (into the fatty layer just underneath the skin).
- It’s available in prefilled, individually dosed syringes or in single-dose auto-injectors.
- Rebif should be stored in the refrigerator.
- Before injecting Rebif, allow the medication to warm to room temperature.
- Do not expose medication to sunlight or extreme temperatures.
- When you first start Rebif you may be titrated onto the full dose slowly in order to decrease flu-like symptoms associated with injections.
- Analgesics and/or antipyretics (such as Tylenol, Aleve, or Advil) can be used to alleviate flu-like symptoms on injection days if needed.
How it Works: Interferons are naturally occurring proteins that are produced by the immune system in response to insult or infection. There are several classes of interferons, including alpha and beta. Interferon medications resemble these naturally occurring interferons and are used to treat a variety of diseases such as viral infections and cancer. Interferon beta medications, such as Rebif, have also been shown to slow the progression of multiple sclerosis.
Precautions:
- Tell your doctor if you have a history of depression, seizures, heart disease, thyroid problems, anemia, or liver disease.
- Do not use if you have an allergy to other interferon beta medications or albumin.
- Rebif should not be used in pregnant women or women who are trying to become pregnant. Use an effective means of birth control while taking Rebif.
- Use interferon beta medications with caution if you have a seizure disorder as they have been associated with seizure activity.
Most Common Side Effects:
- Flu-like symptoms after injection (fatigue, chills, fever, muscle aches, sweating)
- Injection site reactions (swelling, redness, discoloration, and pain)
- Abdominal pain
Serious Side Effects:
- Depression
- Liver injury
- Seizures
- Reduced white blood cell count
- Allergic reactions
Resources: For a complete list of side effects and clinical trial results, see the prescribing information.
Patient Support/Financial Assistance: MS Lifelines, 1-877-447-3243
Brand Name: Tecfidera
Chemical Name: Dimethyl fumarate
Manufacturer: Biogen Idec
Date Approved by the FDA: March, 2013
Dosage(s), Availability, and Proper Usage:
- 240 mg capsule taken orally twice a day.
- To minimize gastrointestinal (GI) discomfort and skin flushing (accompanied by a warm, hot, or even burning sensation), when starting Tecfidera, the starting dose is 120 mg twice a day for seven days. If side effects are intolerable, it can be increased even more gradually.
- Flushing and GI discomfort most commonly occur in the first month of treatment and decrease in frequency and/or intensity thereafter.
- Tecfidera can be taken with or without food.
- Store Tecfidera at room temperature, in a dry area, away from light.
How it Works: Though the exact mechanism of action for Tecfidera is not well understood, it appears to have anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting proteins called cytokines and chemokines that are normally secreted during the inflammatory response. Additionally, Tecfidera acts as an antioxidant which may mean that it has a protective effect on the central nervous system.
Precautions:
- Blood work will be monitored regularly for a decreased white blood cell count while on Tecfidera.
- Tecfidera should not be used in pregnant women or women who are trying to become pregnant. Use an effective means of birth control while taking Tecfidera.
Most Common Side Effects:
- Flushing
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Upper abdominal pain
Serious Side Effects:
- Severe allergic reactions including anaphylaxis and angioedema (swelling beneath the skin, most common around the lips and eyes)
- Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a severe viral infection of the brain that can lead to severe disability and/or death
Resources: For a complete list of side effects and clinical trial results, see the prescribing information.
Patient Support/Financial Assistance: Tecfidera.com, MS Active Source, 1-800-456-2255
Brand Name: Tysabri
Chemical Name: Natalizumab
Manufacturer: Biogen Idec
Date Approved by the FDA: November, 2004
Dosage(s), Availability, and Proper Usage:
- 300 mg IV infusion given over one hour every four weeks.
- Patients should be observed for one hour after the IV infusion is finished.
How it Works: Tysabri is a man-made antibody. In the body, naturally occurring antibodies are proteins used by the immune system to identify and attack foreign invaders. Tysabri antibodies attach to immune cells and effectively keep them in the bloodstream. This prevents T cells from crossing through the blood-brain barrier (BBB) into the central nervous system (CNS). In MS, myelin is damaged by immune cells that have crossed into the CNS through a leaky BBB.
Precautions:
- Tysabri can’t be used in people with a history of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a severe viral infection of the brain that can lead to serious disability and/or death.
- Because of the risk of PML, blood work and MRI scans will be done regularly while a person is on Tysabri.
- Because of the risk of PML, Tysabri is a restricted medication and can only be prescribed by participating physicians through a restricted distribution program called the TOUCH Prescribing Program.
- Those at higher risk for PML include: patients treated with Tysabri for over two years, anyone who has been on immunosuppressant or immunomodulatory therapy in the past, and individuals who are positive for anti-JCV antibodies.
- People on long-term immunosuppressant or immunomodulatory therapy should not be treated with Tysabri.
- Tysabri should not be used in pregnant women or women who are trying to become pregnant. Use an effective means of birth control while being treated with Tysabri.
Most Common Side Effects:
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Joint pain
- Abdominal discomfort
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Extremity pain
Serious Side Effects:
- Herpes encephalitis and meningitis
- Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a serious viral infection of the brain that can lead to severe disability and/or death
- Liver injury
- Severe allergic reactions
- Immunosupression/infections
- Depression
Resources: For a complete list of side effects and clinical trial results, see the prescribing information.
Patient Support/Financial Assistance: Tysabri.com, 1-800-456-2255 and MS Active Source, 1-800-456-2255
Article by:
Stephanie Buxhoeveden MSCN, FNP-BC
Stephanie is a nurse practitioner who was diagnosed with MS at age 25. Shortly after being diagnosed she realized she could use her experiences as a patient to make a difference in the lives of others, so she became a multiple sclerosis certified nurse. Stephanie completed her master’s in nursing at Rutgers University, and now specializes in the care of people with MS and other neurological diseases.
Her blog, www.justkeepsmyelin.com, offers a unique perspective on MS from both a healthcare provider’s point of view, and through the eyes of a person living with the disease every day. Her mission is to bring compassion, humor, and a deeper understanding of MS to anyone who reads it. She also writes for MultipleSclerosis.net, MSFocus Magazine, serves as a District Activist Leader for the National MS Society and is on the membership committee of iConquerMS.
To learn more about the MS HOPE Foundation and to keep up with the latest MS news and research, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.