MSAA Logo spacer
spacer
spacer
spacer
spacer
spacer
spacer
spacer
spacer
spacer
spacer spacer
spacer
MSAA Home Page
space space
space
space space
Multiple Sclerosis Medications
space space

Stay ahead, take control.

space
space
space
Disease-Modifying ImmunotherapyExacerbation ManagementSymptom Management
Over ViewView All Medications
 

Symptom Management

The third and equally important area of drug treatment for MS is symptom management. Many medications are available to reduce the effects of most MS symptoms, including fatigue, spasticity and spasms, tremor, vertigo and dizziness, depression, pain, bowel and bladder problems, sexual dysfunction, and cognitive changes.

Drugs for Managing MS and Its Symptoms
(As listed by MSAA Chief Medical Officer Jack Burks, MD)

Fatigue

Provigil® (modafinil)
Symmetrel® (amantidine)
Cylert® (pemoline)
SSRI antidepressants (Prozac®, Paxil®, Zoloft®)
Ritalin® (methylphenidate)
Energizing” tricyclic antidepressants (Vivactil®, Pamelor®)

Spasticity

Lioresal® (baclofen)
Zanaflex® (tizantidine)
Klonopin® (clonazepam)
Dantrium® (sodium dantrolene)
Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine HCl)
Valium® (diazepam)
Intrathecal baclofen pump
Botox®/Myobloc® (botulinium toxin)

Intermittent Spasms(often at night)

Neurontin® (gabapentin)
Tegretol® (carbamazepine)
Eldepryl® (selegiline)
Sinemet® (L-dopa)

Tremor

Inderal® (propranolol)
Buspar® (buspirone)
Klonopin® (clonazepam)
Atarax®, Vistaril® (hydroxyzine)
Desyrel® (trazodone)
Diamox® (acetazolamide)
Mysoline® (pimidone)
Isoniazid (INH) & pyridoxine
Brain stimulation surgery

Vertigo/Dizziness

Antihistamines
Antivert® (meclizine)
Benadryl® (diphenhydramine)
Dramamine® (dimenhydrinate)
Scopolamine patch

Benzodiazepines
Klonopin® (clonazepam)
Ativan® (lorazepam)
Xanax® (alprazolam)
Serax® (oxazepam)
Valium® (diazepam)

Depression

SSRI
Paxil® (paroxetine)
Prozac® (fluoxetine)
Zoloft® (sertraline)
Lexapro® (escitalopram)
Celexa® (citalopram)

Tricyclic Antidepressants
Elavil® (amitriptyline)
Pamelor® (nortriptyline)
Tofranil® (imipramine)
Norpramin® (desipramine)

Other Medications for Depression
Desyrel® (trazodone)
Serzone® (nefazodone)
Welbutrin® (bupropion HCl)
Effexor® (venlafaxine)

Pain

Neurontin® (gabapentin)
Tegretol® (carbamazepine)
Zanaflex® (tizanidine)
Lioresal® (baclofen)
Dilantin® (phenytoin)
Tricyclic antidepressants
Cytotec® (misoprostol)
Depakote® (valproate)
Zostrix® (Capsaicin; topical analgesic for
dysesthesia)

Bowel Problem

Bulk forming agents
Metamucil®, FiberCon®, Fiberall®, Perdiem Plain® fiber, Citrucel®

Stool softeners
Colace®, Surfac®, Chronulac® syrup

Oral laxatives
PeriColace®, Milk of Magnesia®

Suppositories (Rectal stimulants)
Glycerin suppositories, Ducolax® suppositories

Therevac enemas

Sexual Dysfunction

Viagra® (sildenafil citrate)
MUSE® (prostaglandin)
Cialis® (tadalafil)
Levitra® (vardenafil HCI)

Memory Loss

Aricept® (donepezil HCl)
Possibly other Alzheimer’s drugs

Bladder Problem

Anti-spasticity medications
Detrol® (tolterodine tartrate)
Ditropan® (oxybutynin)
Ditropan XL® (oxybutynin chloride)
Zanaflex® (tizanidine)
Crystospaz®, Levbid®, Levsinex® (hyoscyamine)
Urispas® (flavoxate hydrochloride)
Tofranil® (imipramine)
ProBanthine® (propantheline bromide)
Intrathecal baclofen pump

Alpha blockers
Hytrin® (terazosin)
Dibenzyline® (phenoxybenzamine)

Antibiotic Bladder Agents

Macrodantin® (nitrofurantoin)
Cipro® (ciprofloxacin)
Septra® (trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole)

Other Bladder Drugs

Pyridium® (phenazopyridine HCl)
Urecholine® (bethanechol)
DDAVP (desmopressin)

 
space space space

space
The Process and Medical Treatments cover
Read The Process and Medical Treatments,
an MSAA Publication

space
space


Reproduction of material from any MSAA.com pages without written permission is strictly prohibited
Copyright 2004 MSAA
MSAA, 706 Haddonfield Road, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
Telephone 856-488-4500 | Fax 856-661-9797
E-mail: msaa@msassociation.org | MSAA.com Terms of Use