What is multiple sclerosis?

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.

How do members experience multiple sclerosis?

Top 5 symptoms reported by people with multiple sclerosis*

*Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.

Top treatments taken by people for multiple sclerosis*

*Data from patients with multiple sclerosis, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Compare treatments taken by people with multiple sclerosis*

Treatment
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment

(Ocrevus)
Perceived effectiveness
for multiple sclerosis (23 evaluations)
Side effects
Total evaluations
23
Tried for
multiple sclerosis (62)
Treatment

(Mavenclad)
Perceived effectiveness
for multiple sclerosis (6 evaluations)
Side effects
common cold fatigue 1 more
Total evaluations
6
Tried for
multiple sclerosis (20)
Treatment

(Tecfidera)
Perceived effectiveness
for multiple sclerosis (6 evaluations)
Side effects
facial flushing flushing
Total evaluations
6
Tried for
multiple sclerosis (20)
Treatment

(Aubagio)
Perceived effectiveness
for multiple sclerosis (11 evaluations)
Side effects
bowel urgency diarrhea 7 more
Total evaluations
11
Tried for
multiple sclerosis (15)
Treatment

(Copaxone)
Perceived effectiveness
for multiple sclerosis (4 evaluations)
Side effects
chronic fatigue injection site pain
Total evaluations
4
Tried for
multiple sclerosis (13)

*Data from patients with multiple sclerosis, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Who has multiple sclerosis on PatientsLikeMe?

Age

Age Proportion # of patients
<20 18
20s 441
30s 3,703
40s 12,081
50s 20,094
60s 17,570
70+ 8,279

Distribution of sex

Sex

Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 11,487
Female 51,210

We’re all in this for good.

By sharing your stories and data, you will:
  • help each other live better and uncover the best ways to manage your health today
  • help researchers shorten the path to new treatments tomorrow

How much good can your data do? A whole lot, as member Jackie explains in this video.

What is multiple sclerosis?

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.



Common symptoms reported by people with multiple sclerosis

Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it

Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.
Last updated:



Treatments taken by people for multiple sclerosis

Treatment name(s)
Type
How many have tried
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Ocrevus)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
1,826
Tried for
multiple sclerosis (62)
Treatment name(s)

(Mavenclad)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
21
Tried for
multiple sclerosis (20)
Treatment name(s)

(Tecfidera)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
7,288
Tried for
multiple sclerosis (20)
Treatment name(s)

(Aubagio)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
2,020
Tried for
multiple sclerosis (15)
Treatment name(s)

(Copaxone)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
17,013
Tried for
multiple sclerosis (13)

Data from patients with multiple sclerosis, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
Last updated:


Compare treatments taken by people with multiple sclerosis

Treatment name(s)
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Ocrevus)
Perceived effectiveness
for multiple sclerosis (23 evaluations)
Side effects
Total evaluations
23
Tried for
multiple sclerosis (62)
Treatment name(s)

(Mavenclad)
Perceived effectiveness
for multiple sclerosis (6 evaluations)
Side effects
common cold fatigue 1 more
Total evaluations
6
Tried for
multiple sclerosis (20)
Treatment name(s)

(Tecfidera)
Perceived effectiveness
for multiple sclerosis (6 evaluations)
Side effects
facial flushing flushing
Total evaluations
6
Tried for
multiple sclerosis (20)
Treatment name(s)

(Aubagio)
Perceived effectiveness
for multiple sclerosis (11 evaluations)
Side effects
bowel urgency diarrhea 7 more
Total evaluations
11
Tried for
multiple sclerosis (15)
Treatment name(s)

(Copaxone)
Perceived effectiveness
for multiple sclerosis (4 evaluations)
Side effects
chronic fatigue injection site pain
Total evaluations
4
Tried for
multiple sclerosis (13)
  • Major
  • Moderate
  • Slight
  • None
  • Can't tell
  • Severe
  • Moderate
  • Mild
  • None

Data from patients with multiple sclerosis, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
Last updated:



Who has multiple sclerosis on PatientsLikeMe?

  • 15 new patients joined this month
  • 71,661 say MS is their primary condition

Age
Age Proportion # of patients
<20 18
20s 441
30s 3,703
40s 12,081
50s 20,094
60s 17,570
70+ 8,279
Age at first symptom
Age at first symptom Proportion # of patients
0-19 years 2,892
20-29 years 9,452
30-39 years 9,922
40-49 years 6,061
50-59 years 1,553
60-69 years 156
70+ years 19

Distribution of sex

Sex
Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 11,487
Female 51,210

Types
Condition Types Proportion # of patients
Primary progressive multiple sclerosis 4,775
Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis 39,664
Secondary progressive multiple sclerosis 6,046
Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status Proportion # of patients
Diagnosed 33,688
Not Diagnosed 1,344

These charts show data from MS patients who have completed their condition history
Last updated: