MSActiveSource

Common side effects

With any medication there is the potential for side effects. These can differ depending on which multiple sclerosis (MS) medication you are taking and the route of administration and will vary from person to person.

Disease modifying treatment (DMT)
Remember that not everyone will experience the side effects listed below. However, if you are taking a DMT and are experiencing side effects, talk to your neurologist or MS nurse about any questions that you may have before stopping treatment. There may be ways to manage side effects, or more suitable treatment options for you. Some of the more common side effects of DMTs include:

Injectable MS treatments

• Flu-like symptoms (headaches, muscle aches, chills or a fever)
• Loss of appetite
• Feeling weak and tired
• Difficulty sleeping
• Depression
• Flushing
• Diarrhoea (loose stools)
• Feeling or being sick (nausea or vomiting)
• Numbness or tingling of skin
• Rash, bruising of the skin
• Increased sweating, night sweats
• Pain in your muscles, joints, arms, legs or neck
• Muscle cramps, stiffness in the joints and muscles
• Pain, bruising and redness at the injection site

Infused MS treatments

• Urinary tract infection
• Sore throat and runny or blocked up nose
• Shivering
• Itchy rash (hives)
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Feeling sick (nausea)
• Being sick (vomiting)
• Joint pain
• Fever
• Tiredness

Oral MS treatments

• Headache
• Back pain
• Diarrhoea
• Nausea and vomiting
• Cough
• Depression
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Itchy, red, burning rash (signs of eczema)
• Hair loss
• Itching
• Weight loss

This is only a partial list of possible treatment side-effects. Please refer to individual patient medication guides for a full list or ask your doctor or MS nurse.

Drugs used to treated relapses (corticosteroids)
Just as you may experience side-effects with DMTs, there is also the potential for side effects with corticosteroids (steroids) which are used to treat a relapse. These can differ depending on the dose of medication you are taking and the route of administration, and will vary from person to person. Remember that not everyone will experience the side effects listed below. However, if you are taking medication for a relapse and are experiencing side effects, talk to your neurologist or MS nurse about any questions that you may have before stopping treatment. There may be ways to manage side effects, or more suitable treatment options for you. Some common short-term side effects of steroids include:

• Indigestion
• Altered mood
• Altered sleep pattern
• Increased appetite
• A bad taste in the mouth

This is only a partial list of possible treatment side-effects. Please refer to individual patient medication guides for a full list or ask your doctor or MS nurse.