This evening I am choosing to write about Tysabri. I am not sure if everyone is familiar with the drug most I am betting that almost everyone from the Multiple Sclerosis community knows what I am talking about. The reason why I am choosing to write about this is because my neurologist and I have recently decided to take me off of my previous Multiple Sclerosis medication which was Rebif (interferon beta 1-a). Once I hit my 5 yr mark of having the disease I realized that I have been having a lot of relapses that have resulted in extended hospital stays and after sitting down and talking with my amazing parents we all came up with the same conclusion that it was time to try something new. At first when I told my doctor that I wanted to switch he has a funny face then he said I was wondering when you were going to ask me to try something new. At first I wanted to try the new oral medication that they have out and then once he told me the extensive testing that has to happen before you can even be considered for the medication I quickly changed my mind. He told me that it is either a drug that is a once daily injection or Tysabri which is a once every 28 day infusion. I was like where do I sign up. He said ok and he started to explain the side effects and the risks. He said that first I needed to be tested for this thing called the JC antibody virus. I have been tested for that and I get my results on the 27th of January which is my next appointment with him. I told my neurologist that no matter what I am going to start the drug because I have heard nothing but good things about it and how much the quality of life for patients gets better after being on the medication for a little bit and some have even experienced a change after their first dose. So now I am going to tell you a little bit more about the medication.
Tysabri is a prescription medicine approved for adult patients with relapsing forms of MS to slow the worsening of physical disability that is common in patients with MS and decrease the number of flare-ups (relapses). Tysabri does not cure MS and has not been studied for longer than two years or patients with chronic progressive MS. There are definitely some down sides to Tysabri that are very scary and well here they are. Tysabri increases your chance of getting a rare brain infection that usually causes death or severe disability. This infection is called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy or PML for short. PML usually happens in people with weakened immune systems. No one can predict who will get PML. There is no known treatment, prevention, or cure for PML. Your chance of getting PML is higher if you are also being treated with other medicines that can weaken your immune system including other MS treatments. Even if you use Tysabri alone to treat your MS, you can still get PML. Your chance of getting PML increases with a longer period of treatment or if you have received medicines that can weaken your immune system prior to starting Tysabri. Tysabri is available only through a restricted distribution program called the TOUCH Prescribing Program. In order to receive Tysabri, you must talk to your doctor, understand the benefits and the risks of Tysabri, and agree to all of the instructions in the TOUCH Prescribing Program.
Two benefits of Tysabri MS treatments are that you don’t have to self-inject and it’s given just once every 4 weeks. Unlike most other MS, Tysabri is administered by infusion at an infusion center, a specifically equipped doctor’s office, or an infusion clinic within a hospital. Tysabri is infused through a needle placed in a vein where your arm bends.
Well I know that this has been a very long blog but I am hoping that it was informative for anyone that is considering Tysabri as a treatment option or knows someone that is. If you have any questions please do not hesistate to ask me. Until next time. Take Care and God Bless.
Smile,
Jennifer