Treatment Options: Infusion Medications

Infusion Medications

The past few weeks we have been discussing the various types of treatments for multiple sclerosis including injectable medications and oral medications. This week we will be discussing infusion medications. There are only four medications in this category, two of which have been approved just recently, Tysabri, Novantrone, Lemtrada and Ocrevus. Let’s take a closer look at each of them.

Tysabri

Tysabri is a monoclonal antibody that is designed to prevent damaging immune cells from entering the bloodstream and crossing the blood brain barrier into the brain and spinal cord. It was approved by the FDA in 2004 for the use in MS. Tysabri is considered an immuno suppressant medication, and should not be used in combination with any other medications that affect the immune system. It is given via infusion once a month at a hospital, local infusion center or doctors office. Usually the infusion itself takes around an hour, then the individual must be observed for an hour afterwards to make sure there are no complications or reactions to the medication. Tysabri is usually considered when other medications have been tried and have not been successful.

There is a very serious, but rare, risk of taking tysabri (and other immno suppressant medications), PML. PML (Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy) is a potentially fatal brain infection that can be caused by the JC virus. If you are taking other medications that suppress your immune system, have been taking tysabri for a longer period of time (over two years), or test positive for the JC virus, your risk of getting PML increases. While taking tysabri, you will be monitored every six months via blood test for the JC virus. PML can be tricky to spot, as the symptoms are very similar to symptoms of MS. Clumsiness, vision changes, weakness on one side of the body, personality changes and problems with cognition (thinking, memory and orientation leading to confusion). If you ever experience some of the symptoms and think you may have PML, it is important that you call your doctor immediately.

Other side effects of tysabri can include headache, fatigue, chest/abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, depression, rash and joint pain. Tysabri can also cause liver damage which can be monitored and detected by blood tests. Just another reason to be keeping up with regular appointments and blood work.

Although there are many warnings and potential side effects, many patients have reviewed this medication and called it “liquid gold”. They find it has helped with their symptoms immensely.

Novantrone

Novantrone is an antineoplastic (anti-cancer) medication that is a DNA reactive agent, meaning it causes damage to DNA. It was approved by the FDA in 2000 for the use in MS. Novantrone works by stopping the proliferation of B cells and T cells and macrophages, which all play a role in the immune response that is thought to be involved in MS. It is indicated for people with secondary progressive MS, progressive relapsing MS or worsening relapsing remitting MS. Novantrone is given via infusion that takes 5-15 minutes. Due to potential damage to your heart, you shouldn’t take more than 140mg in your lifetime, this will limit your treatment to 2-3 years.

Before starting to take Novantrone, you’ll have a heart test that will look for a problem called “left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)”. If you have a clinically significant reduction or a 50% reduction in LVEF, you should not take Novantrone. Also, if your neutrophill count is below 1500 cells/mm you shouldn’t take it. Novantrone will clear more slowly from your body if your liver function is impaired, as well. Therefore you will need to be tested for proper liver function prior to starting Novantrone.

Common side effects from Novantrone can include nausea, temporary hair thinning, temporary blue-green urine, urinary tract and airway infections, uneven heart rate, weight gain and chest pain/tightness. More serious side effects can include heart disease, liver damage and therapy-related acute leukemia (TRAL).

Lemtrada

Lemtrada is a monoclonal antibody that focuses on CD52 (a protein on the surface of immune cells) and causes depletion of lymphocytes. It was approved by the FDA in 2014 for the use in MS. Originally, it was used and approved at a much higher dose for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. It’s ability to target immune cells lead scientist to test its potential as a treatment for MS. Lemtrada is given by infusion for five consecutive days at first, then three consecutive days a year later.

There are serious side effects associated with Lemtrada. A rare bleeding condition, a rare kidney condition, life-threatening infusion reactions, increased risk of cancers and autoimmune thyroid disorders. Yikes!!

More common and less severe side effects include rash, headache, fever, nasal congestion, nausea, urinary tract infection, fatigue, insomnia, upper respiratory tract infection, herpes viral infection, hives, itching, thyroid gland disorders, fungal infection, pain in joints, extremities and back, diarrhea, sinusitis, sore mouth and throat, tingling, dizziness, abdominal pain, flushing and vomiting.

Prior to starting the medication, an individual should be vaccinated for varicella, their thyroid function should be tested and then monitored every three months, they should receive a full CBC and urinalysis once a month until 48 months after last infusion and they should have a skin exam yearly to monitor for melanoma.

Ocrevus

Ocrevus is the newest medication on the scene. It was approved by the FDA in early 2017 for the use in primary progressive MS, and is the first medication to be approved for primary progressive MS. Ocrevus is a monoclonal antibody that targets CD20 positive B lymphocytes. These lymphocytes contribute to nerve damage in MS. Ocrevus is given via infusion in a infusion center or doctors office. The initial dose is split up over two weeks. In the first infusion 300 mg is infused then two weeks later another 300 mg. Each of these infusions takes at least 2 1/2 hours. After the first two doses, you will get one infusion every six months which will take at least 3 1/2 hours. Prior to your first dose you will need to be screened for hepatitis B.

As with the other medications, there are many potential side effects. Fatigue, coughing, fever, shortness of breath, nausea, headache or all possible. Infusion related reactions may occur as well. These may include throat irritation, headache, flushing, mild fever or rash. During clinical trials several individuals developed abnormal growths of tissue, the links between these growths and the medication are still not known.

It is clear that these medications are very strong. Many of them include the caveat of “try others first”. When deciding on one of these medications, it is a very individual decision. You can talk to as many people as you want, but in the end, how the medication will affect you comes down to your body and your biology. You’ll never truly know how something will work, or not work, until you try it.

I’ve been on tysabri for just over two years. Before starting the medication I read numerous patient reviews. It seemed like one person loved it then the next hated it and this continued for pages and pages. I finally realize that I just needed to try it for myself. When I first started it, after I would have an infusion I would be exhausted, like spend the rest of the day on the couch and do nothing exhausted. As the infusions went on, the exhaustion lessened. Eventually I got to the point where I am now. I can walk into the infusion center get my infusion and then go on with my day, *almost* like nothing happened.

I’M ALISSA!

I help women who have also been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis make specific and personalized diet, lifestyle & subconscious changes so that they can begin to heal their body, reduce disease symptoms, and return to a life they love.hey there,

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Treatment Options: Oral Medications

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Movement and The Autoimmune Protocol, Part 3

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Being aware and consciously working on nervous system regulation has SO MANY benefits..
✨Waking up with less anxiety
✨Feeling less all/nothing thinking
✨Being able to physically breathe better
✨Reduction of your MS/autoimmune disease symptoms

I could go on and on.

We aren’t gonna be able to fully manage MS symptoms until we acknowledge our very disregulated nervous system.

Embodied Resilience starts you on that path.
And- you’re in luck- it’s on sale till Monday night.

Comment STABLE and I’ll send you the link!!

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #healingmultiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation #thisisms #becausems

6 3

Open

Being aware and consciously working on nervous system regulation has SO MANY benefits..
✨Waking up with less anxiety
✨Feeling less all/nothing thinking
✨Being able to physically breathe better
✨Reduction of your MS/autoimmune disease symptoms

I could go on and on.

We aren’t gonna be able to fully manage MS symptoms until we acknowledge our very disregulated nervous system.

Embodied Resilience starts you on that path.
And- you’re in luck- it’s on sale till Monday night.

Comment STABLE and I’ll send you the link!!

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #healingmultiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation #thisisms #becausems

6 3

I get it..

It seems like it would be good.

Because others around you are taken care of..
Because others around you feel good..
Because others around you are happy..

But what about you??

In reality, that’s just making it harder for you to help yourself heal and probs making your MS symptoms worse.

I’ve worked with so many people with MS and autoimmune disease… 1 thing (among many) that they all have in common is a habit of putting others before themselves, saying yes way too much and forgetting about what they want themselves.

Feel a little called out?
Then my course Embodied Resilience is for you.

This is a course all about managing + improving your stress tolerance- since stress is the number 1 trigger of symptom flares and relapses

And- it’s on sale for Black Friday!!
Comment SALE below and I’ll send you the link!!

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #healingmultiplesclerosis #thisisms #becausems

18 3

Open

I get it..

It seems like it would be good.

Because others around you are taken care of..
Because others around you feel good..
Because others around you are happy..

But what about you??

In reality, that’s just making it harder for you to help yourself heal and probs making your MS symptoms worse.

I’ve worked with so many people with MS and autoimmune disease… 1 thing (among many) that they all have in common is a habit of putting others before themselves, saying yes way too much and forgetting about what they want themselves.

Feel a little called out?
Then my course Embodied Resilience is for you.

This is a course all about managing + improving your stress tolerance- since stress is the number 1 trigger of symptom flares and relapses

And- it’s on sale for Black Friday!!
Comment SALE below and I’ll send you the link!!

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #healingmultiplesclerosis #thisisms #becausems

18 3

✨How to do this✨

First! Like + save this post so you can come back to it for reference

Now, set a few alarms on your phone- ideally in the morning, afternoon and bedtime.

These will serve as your reminders.

Then, when the alarm goes off:
✨Pause, take a few deep breaths
✨Check in with your mind and body- how are you in this moment?
✨What are you thinking?
✨How are you feeling emotionally?
✨Is there a thought that needs to be challenged/reframed?
✨Are you being present in the moment?
✨How are you feeing in my body?
✨How are you breathing?

Some of these questions might not apply to your current situation and that’s fine

This is the first step to interrupting the very unhelpful patterns we often live in that can increase symptoms via heightened stress

This is one of the big things we work on in Holistically Healing MS, which will be on sale this weekend for Black Friday!!

Comment SALE below and I’ll send you the link when it’s ready!!

13 1

Open

✨How to do this✨

First! Like + save this post so you can come back to it for reference

Now, set a few alarms on your phone- ideally in the morning, afternoon and bedtime.

These will serve as your reminders.

Then, when the alarm goes off:
✨Pause, take a few deep breaths
✨Check in with your mind and body- how are you in this moment?
✨What are you thinking?
✨How are you feeling emotionally?
✨Is there a thought that needs to be challenged/reframed?
✨Are you being present in the moment?
✨How are you feeing in my body?
✨How are you breathing?

Some of these questions might not apply to your current situation and that’s fine

This is the first step to interrupting the very unhelpful patterns we often live in that can increase symptoms via heightened stress

This is one of the big things we work on in Holistically Healing MS, which will be on sale this weekend for Black Friday!!

Comment SALE below and I’ll send you the link when it’s ready!!

13 1

✨Moving your body✨

Notice I didn’t say exercise, although yes that also helps.

Stress hormones can get stuck in our bodies, our cells, our muscle tissue for various reasons.

Making it super easy for us to carry stress around with us- which shows up often as:

Pain
Tension
Trouble breathing
Difficulty with balance

It’s no coincidence that these are often prominent MS symptoms too. Sometimes it’s hard to tell where effects of MS end and effects of stress begin.

Being able to offload accumulated stress is key to being able to improve MS symptoms.

My course Embodied Resilience shows you exactly how to do this, and it’s gonna be on sale for Black Friday.

Comment ME below and I’ll send you the sale link when it’s ready!!

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemhealing #nervoussystemregulation #stressmanagement #thisisms #becausems

8 2

Open

✨Moving your body✨

Notice I didn’t say exercise, although yes that also helps.

Stress hormones can get stuck in our bodies, our cells, our muscle tissue for various reasons.

Making it super easy for us to carry stress around with us- which shows up often as:

Pain
Tension
Trouble breathing
Difficulty with balance

It’s no coincidence that these are often prominent MS symptoms too. Sometimes it’s hard to tell where effects of MS end and effects of stress begin.

Being able to offload accumulated stress is key to being able to improve MS symptoms.

My course Embodied Resilience shows you exactly how to do this, and it’s gonna be on sale for Black Friday.

Comment ME below and I’ll send you the sale link when it’s ready!!

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemhealing #nervoussystemregulation #stressmanagement #thisisms #becausems

8 2

I’ve seen myself and tons of clients through behavior change to help improve their MS + autoimmune disease symptoms.

There are SO MANY things that can help us.

But the one I’ve seen move the needle the most?

Working on your mindset and stress management tools.

We can change our diet
Change how we move
Change the products we’re using
Change the supplements we take..

But if we’re still in the high stress state that most of us are in.. all those will only go so far.

Stress is my biggest symptom trigger, and 99% of my clients feel the same.

My biggest course sale is coming Black Friday, included is my course Embodied Resilience, all about learning how to actually manage stress- so you’re not constantly battling MS flares too.

My email list is gonna get first dibs..
Comment LIST below and I’ll add you so you’re notified first!!

18 8

Open

I’ve seen myself and tons of clients through behavior change to help improve their MS + autoimmune disease symptoms.

There are SO MANY things that can help us.

But the one I’ve seen move the needle the most?

Working on your mindset and stress management tools.

We can change our diet
Change how we move
Change the products we’re using
Change the supplements we take..

But if we’re still in the high stress state that most of us are in.. all those will only go so far.

Stress is my biggest symptom trigger, and 99% of my clients feel the same.

My biggest course sale is coming Black Friday, included is my course Embodied Resilience, all about learning how to actually manage stress- so you’re not constantly battling MS flares too.

My email list is gonna get first dibs..
Comment LIST below and I’ll add you so you’re notified first!!

18 8

Changing my diet changed the course of my life.

I want that for you too.
It feels hard, but doesn’t have to be.

PS- keep your eye out for Black Friday.. all my courses will be on sale, your healing journey awaits!

16 4

Open

Changing my diet changed the course of my life.

I want that for you too.
It feels hard, but doesn’t have to be.

PS- keep your eye out for Black Friday.. all my courses will be on sale, your healing journey awaits!

16 4

And my period started to add to the joy 🙃🙃

We can do hard things y’all,
breathe in, breathe out,
all will be well.

#Electionstress #seasonaldepression #anxiety #multiplesclerosis

19 4

Open

And my period started to add to the joy 🙃🙃

We can do hard things y’all,
breathe in, breathe out,
all will be well.

#Electionstress #seasonaldepression #anxiety #multiplesclerosis ...

19 4

Home stretch!!

Do what you need to do today to take care of yourself friends.

#Electionday #Govote #Vote

9 1

Open

Home stretch!!

Do what you need to do today to take care of yourself friends.

#Electionday #Govote #Vote ...

9 1

Do you do any form of meal planning?

15 2

Open

Do you do any form of meal planning? ...

15 2

I think 90% of my clients have talked about already feeling the shift to Fall and Winter hardddd.

They are worried about seasonal depression coming back with a vengeance, feeling sad summer is gone and so many other things.

I know when so many feel the same way, you might too.
I know I feel this way too.

I’m working with them to put habits in place NOW that will support them through the winter months.

Here are 2 small shifts we talked about this week:

1. Get sunlight into your eyeballs as soon as you can in the morning.☀️☀️

Ideally this is outside, there will be many science bro’s out there telling you that anything else “doesn’t count” but I say that’s BS.
Yes, the sunlight will have a greater impact if you’re viewing outside, but even if you’re behind a window it will do something.

2. Move your body!! 💃🏃‍♀️

The change in seasons to colder weather makes it super easy to hibernate and move wayyy less than we were in the summer.
I know I’ve been guilty of that this week and it’s showing in my sleep.
But moving our bodies can be so helpful for regulating so many things in our bodies.
Ideally you’re moving in the morning, but again- any time of day will do.

These are 2 small shifts that can make it easier for your body to transition to, and live with the Winter months.

Let’s crowdsource… what else helps you in winter??
I know there are many other things that can!!

10 4

Open

I think 90% of my clients have talked about already feeling the shift to Fall and Winter hardddd.

They are worried about seasonal depression coming back with a vengeance, feeling sad summer is gone and so many other things.

I know when so many feel the same way, you might too.
I know I feel this way too.

I’m working with them to put habits in place NOW that will support them through the winter months.

Here are 2 small shifts we talked about this week:

1. Get sunlight into your eyeballs as soon as you can in the morning.☀️☀️

Ideally this is outside, there will be many science bro’s out there telling you that anything else “doesn’t count” but I say that’s BS.
Yes, the sunlight will have a greater impact if you’re viewing outside, but even if you’re behind a window it will do something.

2. Move your body!! 💃🏃‍♀️

The change in seasons to colder weather makes it super easy to hibernate and move wayyy less than we were in the summer.
I know I’ve been guilty of that this week and it’s showing in my sleep.
But moving our bodies can be so helpful for regulating so many things in our bodies.
Ideally you’re moving in the morning, but again- any time of day will do.

These are 2 small shifts that can make it easier for your body to transition to, and live with the Winter months.

Let’s crowdsource… what else helps you in winter??
I know there are many other things that can!!

10 4

All the tools that are inside Holistically Healing MS I’ve used myself to decrease my MS symptoms and significantly feel better in my body.

Over the next 8 weeks, let me be your guide on how to make this a reality for yourself.

We start tomorrow at 5:30pm eastern, you coming?

11 3

Open

All the tools that are inside Holistically Healing MS I’ve used myself to decrease my MS symptoms and significantly feel better in my body.

Over the next 8 weeks, let me be your guide on how to make this a reality for yourself.

We start tomorrow at 5:30pm eastern, you coming?

11 3

I don’t want you to spend the years I did in pain, feeling numb and tingly, being exhausted- and having to do all the research.

Let me make it easier for you.

Comment HHMS below and I’ll send you details.
We start next week!!

68 40

Open

I don’t want you to spend the years I did in pain, feeling numb and tingly, being exhausted- and having to do all the research.

Let me make it easier for you.

Comment HHMS below and I’ll send you details.
We start next week!!

68 40

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