|
Multiple
Sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that
affects the central nervous system (CNS). The CNS consists of the brain, spinal
cord and the optic nerves. People with
MS can expect one of four clinical courses of disease – relapsing remitting, primary-progressive,
secondary-progressive and progressive relapsing – each of which might be mild, moderate
or severe. MS typically first affects
people in their 20s or 30s and is one of the most common causes of disability among
the young and middle-aged. Approximately
400,000 people in the
United States
have multiple sclerosis. Therapies
that slow the progression of the disease are now available, so early diagnosis and
treatment are important in limiting the impact of this potentially devastating disease.
Your Care at
Ascend SpecialtyRx
Ascend SpecialtyRx
manages patients with multiple sclerosis based on the most recent
Disease Management Consensus Statement published by the National MS Society.
Our pharmacy maintains full availability of all needed
medications and medical supplies, and we offer around-the-clock emergency support
and patient counseling, as well as confidential, flexible and on-time delivery options.
Our expert pharmacy team works closely with each patient
and their healthcare providers to help ensure that patients take their medications
as prescribed, and offers information on how to minimize side effects.
We can also provide recommendations for alternative therapies, whenever appropriate.
Common Drugs for the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis
Avonex
Betaseron
Copaxone
Estavia
Rebif
Special Considerations for Multiple Sclerosis Patients
Patients need additional monitoring and support to
maintain the safe and effective use of their medications.
For example, each month, our pharmacy team may remind patients of the importance
of reporting any signs of
depression, suicidal thoughts or anxiety, easy bruising or bleeding, irregular heart
beat, redness at the injection site or trouble breathing during the injection.
Helpful Links
Ascend SpecialtyRx is not responsible for the content displayed in the following websites
National MS Society
MS Association of
America
MS Foundation
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
|