Disease modifying drug therapy Introduction
There are three main treatment areas in MS: symptomatic treatments; treatments for relapses; and disease modifying drugs. The purpose of this book is to assist you in any decision that is made regarding disease modifying drugs. The difference between disease modifying drugs and drugs that are used to treat symptoms and relapses is that disease modifying drugs affect the long-term course of MS.
The information contained within this book will not be used by everybody in the same way. It may reach people at different stages in the decision-making process or indeed at different stages of their MS or treatment history. However, it should not be used as a substitute for clinical advice. Partnership with your health professionals in the decision-making process is of upmost importance. The more you understand about the drugs, and the better your health professional understands your needs, the more confident you can be in any decision that emerges out of this partnership.
The book is divided into three main sections. The first section aims to provide people who are starting to think about drug treatment with information about the available disease modifying drugs, what they do, and whether they are an option now, in the future, or at all.
The second section of the book is for people who would like to know more about the currently licensed disease modifying drugs, the differences between them, and what to expect from them.
The third section of the book provides some brief information about drugs that are not approved for use in MS, but are sometimes administered to people with MS within a particular context such as a clinical trial.