Multiple sclerosis can be described as a disease disorder that affects that central nervous system thereby inhibiting the flow of information in the brain and between the brain and other body parts. Unfortunately, multiple sclerosis has no cure (Kargiotis et al., 2010). That means that the treatments that are usually made are mainly focused on reducing the rate of progression of the disorder by managing its underlying symptoms. For example, corticosteroids including intravenous methylprednisolone and oral prednisone are usually prescribed to the patients who have symptoms of the disorder to reduce the inflammation of the nerves (Schapiro, 2014).
Another treatment measure that can be used to manage the symptoms of the disorder is plasma exchange. In that case, plasma which is regarded as the liquid part of the blood is usually removed and consequently separated from the blood cells. The blood cells are then mixed with albumin and then put back into the body of the patients who have had a series of severe symptoms or failure to respond to steroids. People who experience relapses can be treated using injectable medications such as Avonex, Rebif, Glatopa and Extavia among others. Oral medications include Gilenya, Aubagio, and Tecfidera. Finally, infused medications include Tysabri, Lemtrada, and Novantrone (Ben‐Zacharia, 2011).
The behavior of individuals towards the medications that are provided to them is an important factor that has a lot of implications (Ben‐Zacharia, 2011). Importantly, patients must understand how they adhere to their underlying treatment courses to determine what should be done or readjusted to ensure that symptoms have been treated. The fact that the treatments for multiple sclerosis can be long and involving means that patients should be knowledgeable enough in terms of the management of disease modifying therapies that will be used. Nonetheless, depending on the behavior of the patients towards the treatments that are offered to them, response to disease-modifying therapies is a critical issue.
For instance, Lemtrada and Zinbryta are essentially recommendable treatments to the groups of patients whose responses or behaviors are inadequate (Crayton & Rossman, 2016). Novantrone, on the other hand, can be used to assist patients who have been diagnosed with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. Others who have been associated with clinically isolated syndromes can also be subjected to the same medication. That means that the behavior and responses of the patients towards the symptoms and even treatment courses that are usually initiated to address multiple sclerosis should always be put into consideration because they have impacts on the treatment measures that should be used (Kargiotis et al., 2010).
According to studies, most people are usually hesitant to start their treatment courses leading to the development of side effects because of a number of factors (Schapiro, 2014). For example, delay in the development of symptoms that are associated with multiple sclerosis is usually regarded as one of the main causes of delay in the launch of treatments. Others will also hesitate to take treatments because of fear or needles alongside the underlying medication expenses. Nonetheless, to avoid the development of side effects, patients should know that all medications have side effects and that the difference occurs on how they manage their treatments. With the help of the physicians, patients should follow the medication and treatment guidelines that are offered to them to ensure that their multiple sclerosis conditions are managed accordingly.
It should be imperatively clear that withdrawing from a medication without the approval or consent of the physician is one of the core triggers of adverse effects and should be avoided. Notably, disease-modifying medications are usually meant for long term use. Thus, patients should continue with their medications unless they feel that their symptoms are becoming severe because it is the only clear indication that can be used to conclude that the treatment is not working (Crayton & Rossman, 2016).
- Ben‐Zacharia, A. B. (2011). Therapeutics for multiple sclerosis symptoms. Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine: A Journal of Translational and Personalized Medicine, 78(2), 176-191.
- Crayton, H. J., & Rossman, H. S. (2016). Managing the symptoms of multiple sclerosis: a multimodal approach. Clinical therapeutics, 28(4), 445-460.
- Kargiotis, O., Paschali, A., Messinis, L., & Papathanasopoulos, P. (2010). Quality of life in multiple sclerosis: effects of current treatment options. International review of psychiatry, 22(1), 67-82.
- Schapiro, R. T. (2014). Symptom management in multiple sclerosis. Annals of neurology, 36(S1), S123-S129.
