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Here is My Question:
Why did my doctor put me on Copaxone and not Tysabri? Is it because Tysabri is more for patients with sever MS? Answer: It would be impossible for me to guess why your doctor prescribed Copaxone instead of Tysabri: Glatiramer acetate (either Copaxone or Glatopa) is a reasonable option for someone with early relapsing MS with few risk factors for significant disease activity or disease worsening over the next 3 to 5 years and does not mind self injecting themselves 3 times a week. Tysabri is a highly active disease modifying therapy appropriate for initial treatment of people with relapsing MS in whom the potential benefits of treatment outweigh the risk of PML and other potential complications. This is definitely true of people who are JC virus antibody negative and in certain people who are JC virus antibody positive who have significant risk factors for disease activity or disease worsening in the next 3-5 years. When you asked whether Tysabri was for people with “severe” MS, this greatly depends on your definition of severe; for instance, if your definition of severe means that the person is already significantly disabled, then Tysabri may not be the most appropriate treatment at that point in time. People with severe disability (for instance, wheelchair bound) have often experienced MS for many years already, if not decades, and typically have a progressive form of the disease. Tysabri may not help this type of person with MS. On the other hand, people with risk factors that suggest they will experience significant worsening in the next 3 to 5 years if they are not treated more aggressively are ideal candidates for Tysabri, especially before they develop significant disability. Revere (Rip) Kinkel MD Professor of Clinical Neurosciences Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Program Clinical Neurosciences Director University of California San Diego Comments are closed.
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