Which MS drug would be best for me?

Here is My Question:
I've been on Copaxone since 2003-2016....my neurologist found new activity on an old lesion on c2...Dr. wants me to try one of the three pills but I am in nursing school and can't afford side effects. I just turned 50 and have had MS since 1991...now I have lehrmits (vibration down my left leg and optic neuritis in both eyes.) I don't know which drug to pick. My Dr. says to pick one of the three pills. Help!!!

Answer:
It is sometimes hard to know which drug to switch to once you decide you need to be on a different medication.

Regarding side effects, all three of the oral medications have various side effects that are different but in general the side effects are rare and well tolerated.  You may need to discuss with your neurologist your concerns about side effects and get his opinion about which medication is best for you (this may depend on other medical conditions you currently have or have had in the past); for example we generally avoid giving the pill Gilenya (fingolimod) to patients with a prior history of uveitis or macular edema.

It may also be worth your while to get a second opinion about treatment options from a MS center that is located near to you.  The discussion about which medication to start or switch to really needs to be individualized to each patient.

Sincerely,

Benjamin Osborne, MD
Associate Professor of Neurology and Ophthalmology
Director, Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) Clinic
Director, Neuro-Ophthalmology Clinic
Associate Director of the NIH/Georgetown Neurology Residency Program
Medstar Georgetown University Hospital
3800 Reservoir Road, NW 7PHC
Washington, DC 20007