• Home

Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

Toggle: English / Spanish

Multiple sclerosis

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment

Alternative Names:

MS

Treatment:

There is no known cure for multiple sclerosis at this time. However, there are promising therapies that may slow the disease. The goal of treatment is to control symptoms and maintain a normal quality of life. Types of treatment include:

• Immune modulators. Patients with a relapsing-remitting course of the disease are often placed on an immune modulating therapy. This requires injection under the skin or in the muscle once or several times a week. It may be in the form of interferon (such as Avonex, Betaseron, or Rebif) or another medicine called glatiramer acetate (Copaxone). They are all similar in their effectiveness and the decision on which to use depends on concerns about particular side effects.
• Steroids. Steroids are given to decrease the severity of attacks when they occur. These shut the immune system down to stop cells from causing inflammation.
• Lioresal (Baclofen), tizanidine (Zanaflex), or a benzodiazepine may be used to reduce muscle spasticity.
• Cholinergic medications to reduce urinary problems.
• Antidepressants for mood or behavior symptoms.
• Amantadine for fatigue.
• Physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and support groups can help improve the person's outlook, reduce depression, maximize function, and improve coping skills.
• Exercise. A planned exercise program early in the course of the disorder can help maintain muscle tone.

A healthy lifestyle is encouraged, including good general nutrition. Adequate rest and relaxation can help maintain energy levels. Attempts should be made to avoid fatigue, stress, temperature extremes, and illness to reduce factors that may trigger an MS attack.

Support Groups:

For additional information, see multiple sclerosis resources .

Expectations (prognosis):

The outcome is variable and unpredictable. Although the disorder is chronic and incurable, life expectancy can be normal or nearly so. Most people with MS continue to walk and function at work with minimal disability for 20 or more years.

The factors felt to best predict a relatively benign course are female gender, young age at onset (less than 30 years), infrequent attacks, a relapsing-remitting pattern, and low burden of disease on imaging studies.

The amount of disability and discomfort varies with the severity and frequency of attacks and the part of the central nervous system affected by each attack. Commonly, there is initially a return to normal or near-normal function between attacks. As the disorder progresses, there is progressive loss of function with less improvement between attacks.

Complications:

• progressive disability
• urinary tract infections
• side effects of medications used to treat the disorder

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if you develop any symptoms of MS, as he or she is the only one who can distinguish multiple sclerosis from other serious disorders such as stroke or infection.

Call your health care provider if symptoms progressively worsen despite treatment.

Call your health care provider if the condition deteriorates to the point where home care is no longer possible.

References:

Hafler DA. Multiple sclerosis. J Clin Invest . 2004 Mar 15; 113(6): 788-794.

Goetz, CG, ed. Multiple Sclerosis. In: Textbook of Clinical Neurology . 2nd ed. Saunders. Philadelphia, PA: 2003;1060-1076

National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Available at: http://www.nmss.org/ . Accessed June 6, 2005.

• Review Date: 11/7/2005
• Reviewed By: Kevin Sheth, M.D., Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process . A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2007 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.