If you have relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) or secondary progressive MS, your doctor may talk to you about drugs that might help control your disease. With both these types of MS, you get bouts of symptoms called relapses. (For details, see Types of multiple sclerosis.) These treatments may reduce how many relapses you have and slow down your MS. They are sometimes called disease modifying drugs.

The ones most likely to be used are interferon beta, glatiramer acetate, and natalizumab.

As these medicines don't help everyone and they are expensive, you may only be considered for treatment on the NHS if you are in the following groups.^[2]

Relapsing-remitting MS: You should be offered interferon beta (any type) or glatiramer acetate if you:

• Can walk 100 metres or more without help

• Have had at least two clear-cut relapses in the past two years

• Are aged 18 years or over

• Are not pregnant or breastfeeding, and do not have another medical reason why your doctor feels the medicine could be harmful.

You should be offered natalizumab if you have severe relapsing remitting MS that is getting worse. This means you have had two or more disabling relapses in one year, and have signs on an MRI scan that your MS is worsening.^[22]

Secondary progressive MS: You should be offered interferon beta (any type) if you:

• Can walk 10 metres or more without help

• Have had at least two disabling relapses in the past two years

• Haven't become much more disabled due to gradual progression of your MS over the last two years

• Are aged 18 years or over

• Are not pregnant or breastfeeding, and do not have another medical reason why your doctor feels the medicine could be harmful.

Before you start treatment with interferon beta or glatiramer acetate, your doctor should discuss with you how long you are likely to continue treatment. You should expect to stop interferon beta treatment on the NHS if you:

• Have bad side effects

• Become pregnant or are trying for a baby

• Have two disabling relapses within a 12-month period

• Have secondary progressive MS and become more disabled over a six-month period

• Become unable to walk, with or without assistance, for more than six months.

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