Introduction

This information is for people who have multiple sclerosis. It tells you about mitoxantrone, a treatment used to reduce relapses and disability in multiple sclerosis. It is based on the best and most up-to-date research.

Does it work?

Yes, mitoxantrone can help people with types of multiple sclerosis (MS) called relapsing-remitting MS and secondary progressive MS. (For details, see Types of multiple sclerosis.) If you have one of these types, mitoxantrone can help you have fewer relapses and help keep your disability from getting worse.

Mitoxantrone can cause serious side effects so you will need regular checks on your heart and your blood.

What is it?

Mitoxantrone is a drug that calms your immune system. Its brand name is Novantrone. It's usually used to treat cancer.

Doctors usually give mitoxantrone as a drip (also called an IV or intravenous infusion). It takes about five minutes. You'll probably have the treatment at your doctor's surgery or a clinic once every three months.

Mitoxantrone can make you feel sick, so you'll probably be given medicine to calm your stomach too.

How can it help?

If you have relapsing-remitting MS that's getting worse, or secondary progressive MS:

• Mitoxantrone may reduce how many relapses you have and stop your disability getting worse.^[61]

(If you have relapsing-remitting MS, you have bouts of symptoms that come and go. If you have secondary progressive MS, some of your symptoms stay after a relapse and worsen over time.)

How does it work?

No one knows exactly how mitoxantrone works in MS. But the treatment seems to calm your immune system.^[62] This might help delay the nerve damage and disability caused by cells from the immune system attacking the coating of your nerves. (To learn more about what happens in MS, see What is multiple sclerosis?)

Can it be harmful?

Yes, this treatment has several possible side effects.

Mitoxantrone can make you feel sick and make your hair fall out.^[62]

It can also cause a fall in the number of white blood cells in your blood.^[62] This can reduce your ability to fight off infections, especially in the tubes that carry urine from your bladder to the outside. You may need to take antibiotics to get rid of the infection.

If you're a woman, treatment with mitoxantrone can disrupt your periods. There's a good chance they'll stop while you're taking this treatment.

The biggest problem with mitoxantrone is that it can damage your heart. This can happen early on during treatment or months or years after your treatment has stopped. The damage is dangerous because it means your heart does not pump blood properly. The risk of this happening is higher if you take the drug for a long time or if you have a high dose. But this side effect is rare. In one study, 2 out of nearly 1,400 people with MS who were given mitoxantrone got heart problems.^[63]