What is MS?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by destruction of myelin in the central nervous system. MS symptoms may include visual loss, extra-ocular movement disorders, paresthesias, loss of sensation, weakness, dysarthria, spasticity, ataxia, and bladder dysfunction.
What is it like to have MS?
| Common Symptoms | Patients' Latest Severity | My Current Severity |
|---|---|---|
|
||
| Bladder problems | None Mild Moderate Severe | |
| Bowel problems | None Mild Moderate Severe | |
| Brain fog | None Mild Moderate Severe | |
| Emotional lability | None Mild Moderate Severe | |
| Excessive daytime sleepiness (somnolence) | None Mild Moderate Severe | |
| Mood swings | None Mild Moderate Severe | |
| Sexual dysfunction | None Mild Moderate Severe | |
| Stiffness/Spasticity | None Mild Moderate Severe |
What do patients take to treat MS and its symptoms?
Commonly prescribed and frequently used treatments
| Efficacy | Overall rating of side effects | # of Evaluations | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Glatiramer acetate
(Copaxone)
|
1254 | ||
|
Interferon beta-1a IM Injection
(Avonex Prefilled Syringe, Avonex)
|
727 | ||
| 653 | |||
|
Natalizumab
(Antegren, Tysabri)
|
484 | ||
|
Interferon beta-1b SubQ Injection
(Extavia, Uribeta, Betaferon, Betaseron)
|
381 | ||
|
Naltrexone
(ReVia, Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN))
|
144 | ||
|
Methylprednisolone
(Urbason solubile, Methylprednisolon AL, Advantan, Wockhardt Methylprednisolone)
|
143 | ||
| 103 | |||
|
Baclofen
(Mylan Baclofen, DOM-Baclofen, Kemstro, Gabalon)
|
89 | ||
|
Fingolimod
(Gilenya)
|
67 | ||
|
Prednisone
(Encorton, Deltasone, Pronizon)
|
64 | ||
|
Vitamin D
(Rite-Aid Vitamin D, Immunotec Vitamin D, Origin Vitamin D, Premier Value Vitamin D)
|
55 | ||
|
Mitoxantrone
(Novantrone)
|
52 | ||
| 51 | |||
|
Modafinil
(Modavigil, Modiodal, Alertec, Provigil)
|
45 |
These charts show data from MS patients' latest treatment evaluations
Who has MS at PatientsLikeMe?
- 26,162 patients have this condition
- 426 New patients joined this month
- 25,847 say MS is their primary condition
| <20 | 20-29 | 30-39 | 40-49 | 50-59 | 60-69 | 70+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Age | ||||||
| Gender | |
| 80% | Females |
|---|---|
| 20% | Males |
| Age at first symptom | # of patients | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| 0-19 yrs | 1567 | |
| 20-29 yrs | 5673 | |
| 30-39 yrs | 5964 | |
| 40-49 yrs | 3535 | |
| 50-59 yrs | 871 | |
| 60-69 yrs | 60 | |
| 70+ yrs | 7 |
| Condition Types | # of patients | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Progressive | 1429 | |
| Progressive Relapsing | 592 | |
| Relapsing-Remitting | 14017 | |
| Secondary Progressive | 2260 |
| Diagnosis status | # of patients | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnosed | 19681 | |
| Not Officially Diagnosed | 824 |
These charts show data from MS patients who have completed their condition history